More than 60 years later, The Mirror tells the incredible story of how a deal made by Hollywood legend Steve McQueen in the 1960s involving a multi-million-pound painting, a motorcycle, a puppy, and a Malibu house turned out to be true.
It was just another painting on the family home’s wall for lawyer Brent Borchert as he grew up in the 1960s. In fact, he wasn’t all that fond of the distinctive piece of art that had been painted on a canvas. Brent laughs, “I wasn’t the biggest fan, but I didn’t actively dislike it.”
It is obviously immediately recognized as the legendary Jackson Pollock’s creation, and it is estimated to be worth more than £51 million. After his parents, Pamela and Rudolph, passed away, Brent was left with the painting and the remainder of their Malibu, California art collection.
But his enjoyment of the Pollock piece has been shattered after suddenly finding himself at the centre of an extraordinary legal wrangle involving legendary Hollywood star Steve McQueen’s estate. The icon’s granddaughter, Molly McQueen, claims the late actor was the painting’s legal owner all along.
The parents of Brent allegedly brokered a swap agreement between a motorbike and a Californian home, according to a lawsuit brought by Molly’s attorney in Los Angeles. It claims that “Steve McQueen” exchanged a Jackson Pollock drip painting for a motorcycle and property at Latigo Canyon with Rudolph and Pamela Borchert.” The motorcycle was never changed owners because of one of the Borcherts who accidentally crashed it.
The Borcherts, according to the lawsuit, “made a demand for the return of the Pollock painting within a reasonable time thereafter” before going on to file for bankruptcy. According to the description, Molly has “immediate access to the painting.”
When the litigation began, 58-year-old Brent described the specific details as “ringing a vague bell” and as he described them as shocked but intrigued. He continues, “I don’t know if I was even born when the deal happened, and neither my father nor I ever discussed it.” However, I once questioned my mother, “What’s up with the Jackson Pollock painting?” She continued, “Your father made some sort of deal.” I missed out on it. Although it was a quick conversion, I do recall that she might have mentioned something about the house and a motorcycle. Everything is very hazy.
While Brent admits his recollection is poor given the passage of time, he does remember his dad being friends with Steve. Known as the King of Cool thanks to his rebellious and rugged persona, he starred in a string of hit films including The Magnificent Seven and Bullitt.
He was reportedly exposed to asbestos while serving in the US Marines when he passed away in 1980 at the age of 50 from mesothelioma. They were undoubtedly friends and would have dinner, and even though they weren’t friends, they frequently socialized,” says Brent.
They bonded particularly over their mutual love of motorbikes. Steve famously rode a Triumph TR6 Trophy in 1963’s The Great Escape and was a racing aficionado, competing in the British Touring Car Championship and the Elsinore Grand Prix.
According to Brent, “Motorbikes were a big deal in our family, and dad used to ride them all over the mountains,” he says. He would have taken a bike to Malibu Beach, where McQueen and I are a close second, “for the first time.”
Intriguingly, Brent is adamant that his father did once hit his motorcycle, and he is certain that it was the same accident that the lawsuit described. He claims that “I know dad had a cool motorcycle that was a little difficult to get your hands on and that he crashed.” He “fell a lot of stress and ended up in the emergency room.” Mom was also riding her bike.
All motorbike talk was prohibited in the house from that day forward. However, he secretly purchased one and kept it a secret in a deserted parking lot. He says, “I had to conceal the motorcycles up the street.”
Scarlet, 12, and Sabrina, 9, are two daughters of his late wife Misti, and Brent now resides in South Carolina with his fiancée Samantha and their two daughters. His sister Bettina owns the painting with him in part. And he claims to be interested in talking with the estate and actor Molly.
He claims, “I’m not looking for a fight.” I’ll reach an agreement if they’re willing to be reasonable and can point me in the direction of something that makes me believe something wrong happened. But I won’t if they can’t.
Pollock, who passed away in 1956 at the age of 44, was a significant figure in the movement known for his drip-style abstractions. To date, his most expensive painting is Number 17A, 1948, which sold for £146m in 2015. The disputed painting, which the McQueen estate claims is worth £51 million, could fetch much more if it were to be sold at auction.
According to Brent, “Growing up it was just another painting on the wall, and Jackson Pollock wasn’t as well-known as he is now. We never considered selling the painting. Never did we experience financial crisis. In retrospect, I should have gotten all the facts, but I was a child and it was their stuff, not mine.
It’s funny because, according to my parents’ wall, it’s not even the focal point of the room because it’s surrounded by many people who are presumably liked more. “Molly McQueen’s lawyer was contacted for comment,” the source said.
Source: Mirror
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