Artists Accuse BC Gallery of Owing Thousands of Dollars

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Cyndy and Jay Denyar, owners of Tutt Street Art Gallery in Kelowna, British Columbia, are accused of not paying thousands of dollars to artists, according to a story in KelownaNow this week.

“BC artist David Graff filed a civil claim against the Denyars in June 2023 and tells NowMedia that the gallery owes him around $65,000,” according to KelownaNow. 

“That figure is the standard 50 per cent cut of the $130,000 worth of artwork he claims is either in the gallery’s possession or already sold, a number that has decreased from $180,000 since legal action was taken last summer.”

“‘Despite demand, the defendants failed and refused, and continue to refuse, the delivery of the unaccounted artwork to the plaintiff,” the civil claim reads. The Denyars say allegations against them are ‘false.’”

But several others have come forward with similar allegations, according to KelownaNow. Progressive Fine Art president Michael Havers claims the gallery owes his company close to $150,000. 

And other artists including Mike Jell, Natalie Beauchamp, Diane Brunet, Roger Arndt and Christine Reimer have have also made allegations against Tutt Street Art Gallery.

Kelowna RCMP are aware of the accusations, but there is no active criminal investigation, according to the news story, and none of the allegations against Tutt Street Art Gallery have been proven in court.

Source: KelownaNow

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