Portrait of an artist dying intestate

Photograph by Vivian Maier Courtesy Stephen Bulger Gallery

Photograph by Vivian Maier – courtesy Stephen Bulger Gallery

Toronto. Stephen Bulger of the Stephen Bulger Gallery is presenting an exhibition of some 40 Vivian Maier photographs. What is unusual is that the exhibition is free but no photographs will be sold in spite of the prints being made from negatives owned by the Gallery. There is good reason for this – copyright issues. Who is her heir?

Initially it was thought Maier who died intestate had no living relatives. Investigations by genealogists have turned up some potential names. Meantime, one original buyer of a large collection elected to sell his Maier negatives to the Gallery.

Maier was an amateur photographer whose images of New York and Chicago street scenes have prompted interest around the world. James Adams of the Globe and Mail wrote an intriguing article in the Globe’s Arts section this past Saturday. You can learn more by reading the article here.

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