Jack Shainman Gallery has issued a comprehensive response to a lawsuit filed by prominent artist Odili Donald Odita, who accused the New York gallery of withholding his artworks. The gallery's late November filing directly challenges the artist's claims and presents a dramatically different account of their business relationship, alleging that Odita significantly overpriced his work and still owes the gallery substantial money.
In his October lawsuit, Odita claimed that the gallery was refusing to return artworks valued at $1.12 million to him. However, Jack Shainman Gallery maintains that it holds far less inventory than the artist alleged and argues that Odita remains indebted to them for production costs and loans. The Nigerian-born, Philadelphia-based artist, whose work has been featured in prestigious exhibitions including the Venice Biennale, recently completed a high-profile commission painting the atrium of the Museum of Modern Art in New York.
The financial dispute centers around a monthly payment arrangement that began in 2016. According to the gallery's filing, Odita initially received $14,000 monthly, with the gallery claiming this payment structure was implemented because the artist said he was living beyond his means. Jack Shainman Gallery states that it continuously increased Odita's monthly stipend until 2024, ultimately providing him with $586,000 in loans over the years.
Elisabeth Sann, a senior director at Jack Shainman Gallery, explained to ARTnews that the gallery viewed these payments as advances against future sales. "The market was great up to a certain point," Sann said. "The market supported the increases in monthly payments. We really try to be supportive as possible of our artists." She emphasized that this arrangement was unique within the gallery and that none of Odita's other representatives were providing similar financial support.
The gallery's response reveals a significant disagreement over pricing strategy that contributed to the breakdown of their relationship. According to the filing, Odita sought to increase his artwork prices by 160 percent, while the gallery recommended a much more conservative increase of no more than 20 percent. Jack Shainman Gallery argued that this dramatic price increase was unrealistic given what they described as sluggish sales of Odita's work, making the $586,000 loan amount unsustainable.
Regarding the disputed artworks, Jack Shainman Gallery claimed it had the right to retain five works by Odita, allegedly valued at $650,000. These pieces were consigned in 2024 to David Kordansky Gallery, which began representing the artist in 2022. Sann noted that such arrangements are standard practice when a Shainman-represented artist also signs with another gallery. The gallery states that on November 9, 2025, it released these works to Odita through an oral agreement, but maintains that the artist still owes just over $292,000 in outstanding loans.
The legal battle has also involved disputes over financial records and accounting practices. Odita's lawsuit characterized Jack Shainman Gallery's accounting as "extremely suspect," while the gallery countered that the artist had a pattern of repeatedly disputing financial statements despite their having been reviewed. The eight-year business relationship between the artist and gallery, which included eight exhibitions, had made Odita a longtime fixture on the gallery's roster until recently.
Sann expressed surprise at the lawsuit, revealing that the gallery believed it was close to reaching an agreement with the artist before he filed the legal action. "It just feels a little like we're being punished for being generous," she said. When contacted for comment on Jack Shainman Gallery's counterclaims, a lawyer representing Odita declined to provide a statement, leaving the artist's response to the gallery's detailed allegations unclear as the legal proceedings continue.
