The body of a man found in Sydney’s Watsons Bay after a boat crash has been identified as a prominent dealer of Indigenous art.
Tim Klingender, 59, was pulled from the water on Thursday morning, just south of The Gap, after boat debris was spotted near the shore.
His death had been confirmed by family and friends, who’ve taken to social media to pay tribute to the father-of-two.
Fellow gallery director Michael Reid, of Michael Reid Southern Highlands, said Mr Klingender’s death is “an unimaginable and devastating loss to his family and indeed the Australian art world.”
“Tim was quick to laugh. First in on adventure and always up for a chat,” Mr Reid wrote on Facebook on Friday,
“Deeply understanding of the fine and decorative arts, Tim was an interior stylist as much as an important art dealer.”
“Vale Tim Klingender,” writes Harper’s BAZAAR Australia fashion news director Patty Huntington.
“A giant in the Australian art world, notably in the Australian Indigenous art sector.”
Gallery Utopia Art Sydney writes: “Vale Tim Klingender, a champion of Indigenous art.
“Tim’s enthusiasm and advocacy earned respect across the art community. He will be sadly missed, but never forgotten.”
Trained at the University of Melbourne, Mr Klingender worked for Sotheby’s fine art brokers for 20 years, and was an international director from 1998 to 2009, when he opened his own gallery.
Funeral details are yet to be announced.
Meanwhile, NSW police continue scouring the waters south of The Gap, with a 51-year-old man also believed to have been on the same vessel as Mr Klingender still missing.
“Volunteers from Middle Harbour and Port Jackson are out on the water this morning as part of a multi-agency search for a missing person from a vessel that hit rocks off The Gap,” Marine Rescue NSW said on Friday morning.
“As investigations continue police are urging anyone who may have seen – or has any available footage – of the boat or information relating to the matter to contact the Marine Area Command or Crime Stoppers on 1800 333 000,” a NSW Police spokesperson says.