Artist Brittany Fanning has publicly accused London-based Pictorum Art Group of failing to pay her for works sold in a group show three years ago. She and other artists, including Finn Johnson who obtained a court judgment, claim they are owed money. Former staffers also report unpaid wages. The gallery, which operated on Portman Square, was dissolved in July, and attempts to reach its directors, brothers Jackson Navin and Matthew Navin, were unsuccessful. Fanning, who has shown at galleries like Mindy Solomon and Steve Turner, says she is owed around $9,140 total, including for the painting *Shark Lover*.
This case highlights ongoing issues of financial transparency and accountability in the art market, particularly for emerging artists who may lack legal resources. The gallery's unusual payment model—paying artists 20–30% upfront rather than the standard 50% consignment split—left artists vulnerable when the gallery dissolved. The story underscores the risks artists face when dealing with unproven galleries and the importance of clear contracts and recourse mechanisms in the art world.