A woman from California, Kelly Krechmer, claims her genetic test from last year supports what her mother, Patricia, told her throughout her life about her parentage.
At 54, Krechmer is aiming for a share of artist Fred Eversley’s substantial $39 million estate, as indicated in documents submitted to a Manhattan court.
She asserts that she confronted the artist in his SoHo studio several years ago, but he dismissed her claims of being his daughter, which she detailed in her application to be recognized as Eversley’s heir.
Reportedly, Eversley had told her that he was unable to have children.
“When I informed the heirs of my belief that he is my father, he denied it and refused to undergo a paternity test, saying, ‘I can’t have children because I work with toxic substances,’” Krechmer recounted in her legal filing from May 13.
She claims he later denied her further requests for a paternity test.
According to court documents, Eversley, a notable figure in black expressionism known for his parabolic resin sculptures, passed away on March 14 at 83. He left behind a wife, Anna, and two brothers, as well as $27 million in assets and real estate.
In her court filing, Krechmer stated that after sending a saliva sample to 23andMe in July 2024, she learned the results confirmed her “lifelong understanding” that Eversley was indeed her father.
A month later, she emailed the results to Eversley’s studio but claims she never received a response, suspecting that his wife intercepted her message.
Eversley’s will was finalized just a month before his death, on September 4, 2024, according to legal representatives.
The renowned artist abandoned a promising engineering career to pursue art, ultimately leaving the majority of his wealth to his wife while designating $250,000 each to his brothers, Donald and Lani Eversley.
Raised in eastern New York, Eversley was recognized as a trailblazer among black expressionists.
His work, featuring parabolic tree sculptures, gained prominence in major institutions like the Museum of Modern Art in New York, the Tate Gallery in London, and the Smithsonian American Art Museum in Washington, D.C.
In response to the lawsuit, a representative stated, “We are aware of the lawsuit by a woman claiming to be Fred Eversley’s daughter. This appears to be a blatant attempt to exploit a moment of significant loss for personal benefit. We will vigorously contest this claim through the appropriate legal processes.”
A hearing regarding this matter is scheduled for January 14, 2026.
