French judges want the return to France of 100 artworks by Vasarely

French judges are calling for the repatriation of approximately 100 artworks by Victor Vasarely, which were confiscated during a dramatic FBI raid in 2023 at a foundation established by the artist's daughter-in-law in Puerto Rico.
The ongoing legal dispute centers around the ownership of these pieces, with Vasarely's grandson, Pierre, contesting the claims of his mother-in-law, Michèle Taburno-Vasarely.
The case has its roots in a complex family feud involving the legacy of the renowned Franco-Hungarian artist, who was a pioneer of optical art and kinetic painting.
Vasarely, who passed away in 1997, was celebrated for his vibrant works that permeated popular culture, appearing on various commercial products and in prominent exhibitions. His foundation, established in Aix-en-Provence in 1971, was intended to safeguard his artistic contributions. However, since his death, tensions have escalated between Pierre, the current president of the foundation, and Michèle, who has been accused of mismanaging the foundation's assets and unlawfully relocating artworks to the U.S.
In 1995, an arbitration concluded that Vasarely had given too many works to the foundation, leading to the withdrawal of nearly 400 pieces. However, this decision was annulled by the Paris Court of Appeal in 2014, which deemed it a conflict of interest favoring the Vasarely heirs.
The FBI's seizure of the artworks was part of an investigation into their whereabouts, with the court ruling that the confiscation was justified to preserve the pieces as evidence. Michèle Taburno, indicted for breach of trust and money laundering, has been fighting to regain the artworks, claiming they are rightfully hers.
Meanwhile, her legal team argues that the cancellation of previous arbitration does not affect her ownership claims.
The saga continues as Michèle contests the repatriation of the works in U.S. courts, while Pierre seeks to ensure that the foundation's assets are returned to France, reflecting the ongoing complexities of family dynamics intertwined with legal and artistic legacies.
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