Ten artists have accused Arusha Gallery, which operates in Edinburgh and London, of failing to pay them nearly half a million pounds for sold works, with some waiting months or years for payment. Artist Charlotte Keates claims she is owed approximately £430,000 from sales dating back to 2023, while gallery owner Bella Arusha Collins King disputes the amount and asserts the gallery is entitled to a 50% cut from a collaboration Keates entered with Hermès. The gallery acknowledges missing payments, citing a downturn in the art market and the unexpected death of co-owner Guy Rowland Maxwell Bargery in January.
This dispute highlights ongoing financial vulnerabilities in the art market, where small and mid-sized galleries can face severe cash flow issues, leaving artists unpaid and damaging trust. The gallery's plans to launch a wellness and exhibition center in King Charles's former Welsh holiday home, Llwynywermod, raise questions about financial priorities and the sustainability of its business model. The case underscores the precarious position of artists who rely on galleries for sales and the need for greater transparency and contractual protections in the art trade.