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The art dealer representing Hunter Biden said the president’s son had the potential to be one of the most influential painters of the modern era, but declined to say whether he would cooperate with a congressional investigation into sales of the art.
Georges Bergès, who has been overseeing the sale of Biden’s paintings, said the 53-year-old “would go down as one of the most important artists of this century.”
His comments came as he was pressed by the New York Post on whether he would comply with requests from the House Oversight Committee, which asked to see the names of the people who bought Biden’s artwork and the price they paid for it.
The GOP committee investigation is part of an ongoing probe into the shady dealings of the president’s son, which some say involved him taking advantage of his proximity to the White House for profit.
His artwork garnered attention after some of his paintings were listed for a whopping $500,000, but the identities of the buyers and the prices they actually paid were kept under wraps.
Georges Bergès and Hunter Biden. Bergès has represented Biden throughout his artistic career.
Hunter Biden hard at work on one of his many paintings. His manager said that he could be one of the most important artists of the century.
Oversight chairman James Comer said Bergès had not responded to previous requests for information about the sales in the past Congress, but with Republicans in the majority and the threat of subpoena, he expected a response this time.
When The Post asked Bergès whether or not he intended to cooperate, the art dealer declined to comment, instead waxing poetic about the heights of Biden’s artistic prodigy.
“I represent Hunter Biden because I feel that not only is his art deserving of my representation, but because his personal narrative, which gives birth to his art, is sorely needed in the world,” he said.
‘His is a story of perseverance; Hunter’s story reflects what I believe to be the beauty of humanity, judged not by falling, but by having the strength to rise, having the character to change and the courage to do so.’
Hunter Biden’s art reflects all of that and more. His art gives us hope; he reminds us that tomorrow brings a new day, a new beginning, a new possibility,’ he said.
‘Hunter Biden will become one of the most important artists of this century because the world needs his art now more than ever. In a world that beats us down, we need art in our lives that reminds us of the relentless divinity within each one of us.’
Georges Bergès brings a bouquet of flowers to his gallery where Biden art is on display
Georges Bergès stands inside his gallery in New York City during the Biden Gallery Show
Bergès has previously refused to hand over information about Biden’s clients, arguing that he is committed to the anonymity of his clients as well as finding the next great artist of the day.
“Almost 10 years ago I opened a gallery that takes a global perspective on the human experience and seeks to find artists that I believe will be important not only in the art world but in culture in general,” he said.
Comer, however, has not been impressed with that stance. On January 25, he demanded that Bergès hand over details of Biden’s sales by February 8, or else face possible criminal charges.
“For more than a decade, the Biden family has benefited from Joe Biden’s positions as a public official,” Comer wrote. “His deal with Hunter Biden raises serious ethical concerns and questions whether the Biden family is again selling access and influence.”
“Despite being a fledgling artist, Hunter Biden received exorbitant amounts of money from the sale of his artwork, the identities of the buyers remain unknown and you appear to be the only one keeping track of these lucrative transactions,” he wrote. Eat at Bergès.
Bergès could also be forced to hand over the evidence if the committee votes to subpoena him.
Hunter Biden sitting among some of his paintings. His paintings have fetched large sums.
One of Hunter Biden’s paintings. During a gallery show last year, one of his works was listed for $500,000.
A painting of Hunter Biden in his exhibition. The names of its buyers have been withheld.
Hunter’s most recent artwork advertised prices between $55,000 and $225,000, according to the Daily Beast.
Amid criticism of the art sales, the White House Attorney’s Office devised a plan to prevent Hunter or any member of the Biden administration from learning the identities of those who purchased his work.
Bergès was ordered to keep the identities of the buyers secret and to reject any offer that seemed suspiciously high.
Comer highlighted the possibility that ‘foreign buyers’ were making purchases.
Amid criticism of the art sales, the White House Attorney’s Office devised a plan to prevent Hunter or any member of the Biden administration from learning the identities of those who purchased his work.
Hunter’s latest artwork had listed prices between $55,000 and $225,000.
During one of Biden’s 2021 gallery showings, two former White House ethics chiefs warned that buyers could try to gain the president’s influence by buying his son’s work for inflated sums.
“I think that’s absolutely appalling,” Obama’s White House ethics chief Walter Shaub said on Law & Crime’s “Objections” podcast in August.
Richard Painter, George W. Bush’s chief ethics officer, told Fox: ‘It’s going to be very clear with people who know who buys Hunter Biden art.
‘The question is, will the American people know? The White House should insist on full transparency.
The Oversight Committee has focused much of its attention on the Biden family’s business dealings, specifically whether Hunter Biden sold access to foreign officials and to what extent Joe Biden might have been involved.