New filing in Frankenthaler Foundation lawsuit alleges 'pay-to-play' scheme
about 3 months ago (02/02/2024)
New filing in Frankenthaler Foundation lawsuit alleges 'pay-to-play' scheme Art market Museums & heritage Exhibitions Books Podcasts Columns Technology Adventures with Van Gogh Search Search Lawsuits news New filing in Frankenthaler Foundation lawsuit alleges 'pay-to-play' scheme Frankenthaler's nephew has accused the foundation, which terminated his board position last spring, of "extensive self-dealing" Torey Akers 2 February 2024 Share Helen Frankenthaler at work with an unidentified man in her studio in West Islip, New York, 1964 Science History Images / Alamy Stock Photo The nephew of the legendary Abstract Expressionist painter Helen Frankenthaler (1928-2011), Frederick Iseman, has filed an amendment to his November 2023 lawsuit against the artist’s foundation and directors, including his own family members. The complaint further detailed previous accusations , alleging that the non-profit mismanaged funds in a “systematic pay-to-play” scheme, citing “extensive self-dealing” on the part of his cousin, Clifford Ross, Frankenthaler’s stepdaughter, Lise Motherwell, and the foundation’s treasurer, Michael Hecht. “Ross, Motherwell and Hecht have not responsibly stewarded the foundation but selfishly looted it,” Iseman alleged in an amended complaint filed on 31 January.