The Facts
Michael Ward Stout, a prominent art-world lawyer who fought counterfeits of Salvador Dalí and ran the Robert Mapplethorpe Foundation, died on October 16 at his home in Carmel, New York. He was 83. Stout helped Mapplethorpe establish his foundation in 1988, a year before the photographer's death, and led it ever since, protecting and licensing his work. Under his leadership, the foundation established the Robert Mapplethorpe Gallery at the Guggenheim Museum and supported AIDS research facilities.
The Signal
Over the past two decades, Stout collaborated with Thaddaeus Ropac galleries on European exhibitions guest-curated by figures including Sofia Coppola, Isabelle Huppert, Robert Wilson, and Edward Enninful. Thaddaeus Ropac described Stout as a passionate and tough negotiator who had the trust of artists due to his honesty and clarity. His death marks the end of an era for the Mapplethorpe estate, which he shaped into a major philanthropic and licensing force.
- Artists: Salvador Dalí, Robert Mapplethorpe
- People: Michael Ward Stout, Sofia Coppola, Isabelle Huppert, Robert Wilson, Edward Enninful, Thaddaeus Ropac
- Galleries: Thaddaeus Ropac
- Museums: Guggenheim Museum
- Locations: Carmel, New York
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