By Associated Press
Buffalo, NY – The Albright-Knox Art Gallery's sale of more than 200 antiquities can move forward as planned next week after a judge Friday refused to block it.
State Supreme Court Justice Diane Devlin dismissed legal action brought by a group of museum members who argued that selling the pieces would violate the museum's mission and be a misappropriation and waste of donated assets.
"The board reasonably and honestly exercised their judgment to determine that deaccession was necessary for the continued existence and notoriety of the Albright-Knox," the judge wrote.
The contemporary art gallery's board of directors unanimously approved the sale of the mostly older works as a way to strengthen its power to buy pieces that better fit its collection.
Richard Stanton, the lawyer representing a group called Buffalo Art Keepers, which brought the legal challenge, said the sale means Buffalo will lose "over 120 masterpieces ... which have been recognized around the world as some of the finest art ever assembled."
In a written statement, Albright-Knox Executive Director Louis Grachos and Charles Banta, president of Buffalo Fine Arts Academy, which operates the gallery, praised the decision to allow the sale to go forward and reached out to those who fought it.
"We welcome those who have not supported the sale to now join us in directing their energies and resources toward providing for the continuing future viability of our distinguished gallery for generations to come," the statement said.