Oak Bay art dealer charged after police seize 1,100 works of art

An Oak Bay art dealer is facing fraud charges two years after Saanich police seized about 1,100 works of art worth tens of millions of dollars.

According to police, the dealer accepted art from people to give on consignment or to have it appraised. He then broke off contact and sold the pieces without compensating the owners or artists.

Police began investigating in April 2022 after Winchester Galleries closed and the art dealer ceased communication with owners of artworks in the gallery. An art owner contacted police that month to report the situation, saying they had given the dealer four artworks on consignment.

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The owner of the art, who had four artworks in his possession, including works by Canadian artists Emily Carr and David Blackwood, became suspicious when the gallery closed and attempts to contact the art dealer were unsuccessful, police said at the time.

Police found several other victims who had transferred art to the dealer and were unable to contact the dealer.

About 1,100 works of art were found during searches of warehouses in Saanich, Oak Bay and Langford, police said.

According to Saanich police, this was the highest value of seized property by the department in 30 years.

The dealer had acquired Winchester Galleries, a prestigious gallery that spotlights Canadian artists, from long-time owners Gunter Heinrich and Anthony Sam in 2019.

About 1,050 pieces have been returned to their owners, police said Monday, but many still remain unclaimed.

Anyone who has donated art through Winchester Galleries and believes Saanich Police may have it in their possession can contact police at [email protected].

Calvin Lucyshyn, who managed Winchester Galleries, has been charged with fraud over $5,000. He is due in court on September 10.

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