Former wife of artist files lawsuit Woman seeks portion of proceeds from sale of Lincolnville man’s works

ROCKLAND – The ex-wife of acclaimed Lincolnville artist Neil Welliver has filed a lawsuit against the artist and a gallery owner in New York, claiming the two are denying her a portion of the sale of the former husband’s art.

Shelia Welliver and Neil Welliver divorced in August 1999, according to the complaint filed in Knox County Superior Court last week. As part of the divorce settlement, Shelia Welliver was awarded a one-half ownership interest in Neil Welliver’s then-existing art, Shelia Welliver claims.

Philippe Alexandre and Alexandre Fine Art Inc., in New York, represent the sale of Welliver’s work. From the time of the divorce until September, Alexandre and his gallery gave Shelia Welliver periodic accountings of her one-half interest in Neil Welliver’s art and made payments to her when the art sold, her suit claims.

But the claim revolves around a painting by Welliver called “Stump.”

Shelia Welliver claims that an Aug. 16, 1999, inventory of the artwork failed to include “Stump,” but that the painting should have been listed.

The suit further claims that Neil Welliver and Alexandre have contracted with other artists for a woodcut print edition of “Stump,” and that Shelia Welliver will be excluded from the proceeds from any sale of those editions.

Graydon Stevens, a Portland lawyer who represents Neil Welliver, said Monday that “Stump” was not included in the body of art that Neil and Shelia agreed to share ownership of as part of the divorce settlement.

“It involves the interpretation of the divorce agreement,” but “Stump” is clearly not included in the list attached to the divorce settlement, he said.

Stevens said the claim filed in Knox County Superior Court should be considered along with a claim he filed on behalf of Neil Welliver in Waldo County Superior Court in Belfast a year ago.

That claim seeks to overturn the divorce agreement and names Shelia Welliver and John Walsh, a New York attorney who represented Neil Welliver in the divorce agreement.

Stevens said he will file a motion seeking to have the two actions combined.

Shelia Welliver’s complaint, filed on her behalf by attorney David Van Dyke, “is just another issue” in the divorce dispute, Stevens said. She is seeking compensatory, punitive and exemplary damages.

Van Dyke was unavailable for comment on the suit.