Guy Wildenstein has resigned as president of Wildenstein & Co., the prestigious art gallery founded by his family in 1875, after 35 years in the role. He is succeeded by his son David Wildenstein, who previously served as vice president overseeing investment and real estate, while his daughter Vanessa Wildenstein becomes vice president and director of the New York location. The announcement was made to the Art Newspaper, which first reported the news. Wildenstein, 80, was convicted of tax fraud in 2024 in a high-profile French case involving the concealment of masterworks to avoid inheritance taxes, receiving a four-year prison sentence with house arrest and a €1 million fine.
The leadership change marks a generational shift at one of the world's most storied art dealerships, which has shaped major private collections and supplied works to leading museums. Wildenstein's conviction for what French prosecutors called “the longest and most sophisticated tax fraud” in modern France adds a complex legal backdrop to the transition. The gallery emphasized that the resignation is unrelated to the conviction and reflects confidence in the next generation's ability to continue the firm's legacy, which includes dealing in Old Masters and Impressionists and participating in top fairs like TEFAF Maastricht and Frieze Masters.