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British art dealer John Brandler is locked in a bitter legal dispute with an Italian exhibitions company, Metamorfosi, over the return of three valuable Banksy murals.
Brandler, an Essex-based specialist in the graffiti artist's work, loaned the murals—'Season's Greetings,' 'Heart Boy,' and 'Computer Robot'—to the company three years ago.
The works, which are on their original walls, are insured for £15 million.
Brandler has lost patience with Metamorfosi after the company failed to make the final loan payment and has not returned the murals.
The initial two-year contract was extended for a year, with a monthly loan fee.
Brandler states that within a few months, payments became six weeks behind, and the company is now four months behind on the final payment, which was due after the exhibition ended on June 6.
Brandler's concerns are reinforced by another London dealer, Acoris Andipa, who claims Metamorfosi owes him £45,000 for curatorial services and has been chasing the payment for over two years.
In response, Metamorfosi stated that they are a 'well-established and prestigious company' and claimed they had paid all monthly installments except the last one, for which they were awaiting invoices.
They also said they had tried repeatedly to return the murals since June 3 and that Brandler had proposed they keep them until October at no additional cost.
Brandler, however, insists he is still owed the final payment.
The dispute highlights the complexities and risks of loaning high-value artworks for international exhibitions.
The case is ongoing, with Brandler having contacted the Italian embassy and his insurance company, Lloyd's of London.