Watson’s Bay body is identified as Indigenous art dealer as NSW Police search for second mystery man
- Tim Klingender, 59, pulled from water in Sydney Harbour
- Leading Indigenous art dealer was on fishing expedition
<!–
<!–
<!– <!–
<!–
<!–
<!–
A man found dead in Sydney Harbour has been identified as a leading Indigenous art dealer.
The body of Tim Klingender, 59, was pulled from the water by police just south of The Gap near Watson’s Bay, one of the city’s most famous lookout points just after 10am on Thursday morning.
They had been responding to reports of boat debris in the water around 200m from land.
It comes as police are still searching for another man, aged 51, believed to have also been on board.
The body of Tim Klingender (pictured), 59, was pulled from the water by police just south of The Gap near Watson’s Bay, one of the city’s most famous lookout points just after 10am on Thursday morning
Police were seen pulling wreckage from the water with lifejackets among the debris pulled onto their boat.
Mr Klingender, who was reportedly pulled form the water wearing only his socks, had gone out on a fishing expedition early on Thursday morning.
Read Related Also: Russia's latest threat to NATO – and the world: Strikes just 600ft from Romania spark fresh fears of WW3 amid warning WAGNER could be sent to disrupt vital grain supplies
The death of the married father-of-two has left the art world reeling.
‘He leaves behind a huge vacuum for Indigenous art in this country and around the world … he truly was the architect of the market we have today,’ long-time friend and associate, Melbourne gallerist D’Lan Davidson, one of the world’s leading dealers in Indigenous art, told the Sydney Morning Herald.
Mr Klingender (pictured) was described by art experts as the ‘architect of the Indigenous art market we have today’
Mr Klingender was considered one of the world’s leading dealers of Australian Indigenous art and counted wealthy private collectors and Hollywood celebrities, including comedian Steve Martin, among his clients.
He trained at the University of Melbourne where he studied fine art before going on to work for Sotheby’s for 20 years, where he served as an international director between 1998 and 2009.
Rescue crews looking for the other man have extended their search from The Gap south down the coast to Wedding Cake Island off Coogee.
‘Sea conditions around the search area are fair; there is a bit of a swell but visibility is fairly good for the Marine Rescue NSW search crews,’ said Marine Rescue NSW Inspector Steve Raymond.
Police urge anyone with information to contact the Marine Area Command or Crime Stoppers.
