In line with a number of stories this week, rapper and file government Sean Combs might even see a lot of his belongings seized by the Division of Justice if he’s discovered responsible of intercourse trafficking, a cost that he has denied. Amongst these belongings are artwork that he owns—together with a prized Kerry James Marshall portray that he gained at public sale in 2018.
That portray, Previous Instances (1997), appeared in Marshall’s touring retrospective and was gained by Combs, additionally recognized by the moniker Diddy, at Sotheby’s. The portray bought in 2018 for $21.1 million with charges, setting an public sale file for Marshall and making him one of the vital costly residing artists.
ARTnews beforehand reported that Swizz Beatz, a collector in his personal proper, had inspired Combs to purchase the Marshall portray. “I used to be like, ‘This Kerry James Marshall has to remain within the tradition,’” Beatz mentioned.
The depth of Combs’s assortment is just not fully recognized, however Artnet Information reported in 2014 that he was actively shopping for work, with Maria Brito as his adviser. “I don’t need to take credit score for bringing him into the artwork world,” Brito mentioned in a profile for the Every day Beast, “however earlier than me he didn’t actually have any artwork…He by no means had an opportunity for somebody to elucidate issues to him in a approach that might interact his thoughts, like how to take a look at modern and conceptual artwork.”
However by 2024, with 5 civil fits pending towards Combs, Artnet was speculating that he would possibly quickly promote artwork, not purchase it. “I don’t suppose he plans on promoting something,” Brito instructed Artnet in that report, which famous that he had purchased a Tracey Emin piece for $95,000, in addition to items by Random Worldwide and Brett Murray.
