Judge rejects Fisk deal for Ark. museum to take joint ownership of O’Keeffe art collection

Judge rejects Fisk deal to sell O’Keeffe share

NASHVILLE, Tenn. — A Nashville judge has rejected Fisk University’s proposal to sell a joint share in a 101-piece collection donated by late artist Georgia O’Keeffe to an Arkansas museum.

Fisk argued that its precarious financial state prevents the historically black university from maintaining and displaying the collection.

Judge Ellen Hobbs Lyle agreed Friday that the cash-strapped school is unable to exhibit the collection.

But Lyle said the Fisk proposal to sell a 50 percent stake in the collection to the Crystal Bridges Museum in Bentonville, Ark., for $30 million does not meet the terms of the donation O’Keeffe made to the school in 1949.

Lyle ordered the state attorney general to offer a “Nashville-based solution” within 20 days.