New York Judge Blocks Kavi Gupta Gallery from Selling 150 Works in $2.05 Million Dispute
A temporary restraining order has been issued by a judge in New York, stopping Chicago dealer Kavi Gupta and his gallery from selling or disposing of around 150 artworks involved in a legal dispute with Longcraft LLC. This issue stems from a contract made in May 2025, in which Longcraft paid $2.05 million for artworks that were never delivered and were instead consigned back to the gallery. Longcraft alleges that it did not receive funds from certain sales and encountered difficulties in tracking the artworks. After requesting emergency relief on 28 September, Judge Melissa Crane partially granted this request on 29 September, scheduling a hearing for 27 November. Gupta must respond by 22 October, while Longcraft's reply is due by 12 November.
Fatti principali
- A New York judge issued a temporary restraining order blocking Kavi Gupta and his gallery from selling, promoting, transferring, or disposing of about 150 artworks
- Longcraft LLC paid the Kavi Gupta Gallery $2.05 million in May 2025 for roughly 150 works that were immediately consigned back to the gallery
- Gupta personally guaranteed the gallery's obligations under the agreement
- Longcraft alleges works were swapped for lower-value pieces, records altered, an inspection request denied, and some works stored in a space with water infiltration and mold
- Longcraft says at least four works were sold via Artsy without proceeds being transferred and about two dozen more remained listed despite a return request
- Judge Melissa Crane signed the order on 29 September, filed on 1 October 2026, but did not order the collection moved to independent storage
- Gupta's response is due 22 October, Longcraft's reply 12 November, with a hearing set for 27 November in Manhattan
- Artist Jeffrey Gibson sued the gallery in 2023 over sums owed from sales and filed a further action in January 2026 over a settlement agreement
Entità
Artisti
- Kavi Gupta
- Melissa Crane
- Oliver Soleiman
- Jeffrey Gibson
- Young-Il Ahn
- Soraya Ahn
- Jessica Moss
Istituzioni
- Kavi Gupta Gallery
- Longcraft LLC
- New York Supreme Court
- Artsy
- ARTnews
- Whitney Biennial
- Documenta
- Venice Biennale
Luoghi
- Chicago
- United States
- New York
- Manhattan