Natasha Anise and her husband Yoed, who run a tech company together, fell in love with the art of Swedish eco-feminist Monica Sjöö after a visit to the Moderna Museet in Stockholm. They bought three works from the British gallery.
The price ended up being just over 3 million kronor (£264,000). The deal was completed in October 2023, and the works were to be shown first in Oxford and Malmö. But suddenly the gallery wanted to cancel the purchase.
The Anise couple attended the opening of Modern Art Oxford and met with representatives of Monica Sjöö's family, who later said they felt "uncomfortable" in the couple's company. The gallery also felt misled about the couple's "merits" as art collectors.
They say we are unworthy collectors and that Tasha is emotionally unstable, says Yoed Anise.
Natasha Anise believes the conflict arose because Sjöö's relatives were not properly informed when the art deal took place.
After several trips, the couple received an email from the gallery in 2024, stating that the estate had agreed to either complete the deal or cancel the agreement and repay the money with interest.
But now the couple instead wants compensation that corresponds to the market value of the works and is also demanding damages.
