The estranged husband of a prominent New York art dealer was found guilty of orchestrating a murder-for-hire plot in Brazil. Daniel Sikkema, 55, faces life imprisonment for the murder of art dealer Brent Sikkema, 75, who was found dead in his Rio de Janeiro home in January 2024. Daniel Sikkema was arrested in April 2024 and convicted in a Manhattan federal court of charges including conspiracy to commit murder-for-hire resulting in death.
Authorities also apprehended the alleged hitman in Brazil, where he remains incarcerated. Manhattan U.S. Attorney Jay Clayton described the incident as a “senseless, cold-blooded murder” and welcomed the verdict as a measure of justice. Daniel Sikkema’s defense attorney, Florian Miedel, expressed disappointment over the verdict and plans to appeal. Miedel maintains Daniel’s innocence and hopes for a favorable outcome in the future.
Amid contentious divorce proceedings with his then-husband, Daniel Sikkema used a burner phone line to callously order the killing of his husband.”– Jay Clayton, Manhattan U.S. Attorney
Prosecutors detailed Daniel Sikkema’s frequent communications with the alleged hitman before and after the crime. Assistant U.S. Attorney Nicholas Pavlis highlighted how Daniel managed over $10,000 to the hitman and promised more. Pavlis also noted that Daniel expected financial gain from Brent’s death due to inheritance, exceeding any potential divorce settlement. The couple shared a teenage son, further complicating the situation.
Defense attorney Miedel countered the prosecution, arguing that the accusations relied on circumstantial evidence and lacked direct proof of his client’s guilt. He stated, “Life is messy. The truth is not always obvious.”
Brent Sikkema was a well-known figure in the art world, with a substantial estate and a Manhattan art gallery. Sikkema Malloy Jenkins, his gallery, has represented international artists like Kara Walker and Vik Muniz for nearly three decades. His career started in 1971 at the Visual Studies Workshop in Rochester, New York, and he later opened a gallery in Boston in 1976.
A trip to Zurich in 2021 prompted Brent to describe himself online as a “chaos kind of guy,” expressing his fondness for Brazil and Cuba. In a 2022 interview, he called his Rio de Janeiro apartment an urban “oasis,” spending much of his time there despite living primarily in New York. A longtime friend, Yancey Richardson, appreciated Brent’s unique eye and creative approach to art, noting his ability to think outside traditional norms.