The family of Hollywood legend Steve McQueen is embroiled in a legal dispute over a Jackson Pollock painting worth an estimated £51 million. The artwork, discovered in the attic of a Malibu home, is currently owned by Brent Borchert, who inherited it from his parents.
According to a lawsuit filed in Los Angeles, Molly McQueen, the actor's granddaughter, claims the painting was never legally transferred to the Borcherts. The suit alleges that Steve McQueen exchanged the Pollock for a motorcycle and a property in Latigo Canyon, California. However, the motorcycle was reportedly crashed by Rudolph Borchert, and the property title was never changed.
Brent Borchert, now 58, recalls his father being friends with McQueen, bonding over a shared passion for motorbikes. He remembers his father crashing a motorcycle, which he believes matches the accident described in the lawsuit. 'He hurt himself quite badly and ended up in the emergency room,' Borchert said.
Despite the legal action, Borchert says he is open to negotiation. 'I’m not looking for a fight,' he stated. 'If they can show me something that makes me believe something went on that wasn’t right, I’ll listen.'
The painting, a drip-style work typical of Jackson Pollock, hung unnoticed in the Borchert family home for decades. Borchert admitted he was not particularly fond of it as a child. The legal battle continues as both sides seek to establish ownership of the valuable artwork.
