Projjal Dutta sued his older brother Prajit Dutta for trademark infringement in October 2025, escalating a years-long dispute over their shared Manhattan art gallery.
The lawsuit centers on use of the Aicon name
Projjal Dutta’s company, Aicon Contemporary, filed the suit in New York Supreme Court against Prajit Dutta and Harry Hutchison, who runs Aicon Art. The suit alleges false designation of origin and unfair competition, claiming the defendants continued using “Aicon” or “Aicon Gallery” without the word “Art” despite an agreement to the contrary.
The brothers shared space and history since 2008
The Duttas operated Aicon Gallery together at 35 Great Jones Street in Manhattan’s NoHo neighborhood since 2008, building it into a high-profile dealer of South Asian art. Their business grew alongside rising demand from Indian technocrats, even as blue-chip art prices fell.
Disagreements over direction and workload preceded the split
Before the lawsuit, the brothers clashed over management and artistic vision. Prajit, 66, and his deputy Harry Hutchison handled most sales of works by established artists like M.F. Hussain and S.H. Raza. Projjal, 57, focused on promoting younger artists such as Salman Toor to build the gallery’s legacy.
Financial strain prompted early thoughts of separation
In 2017, Projjal said he could not afford the rent at 35 Great Jones Street if Prajit left, nor could he afford a comparable space alone. This financial tension came amid broader disagreements about the gallery’s future and each brother’s role in its success.
What triggered the legal action?
Projjal Dutta sued after accusing Prajit Dutta and Harry Hutchison of misusing the Aicon name to confuse customers and monopolize the brand, violating their prior agreement to use “Aicon Art” for the brother’s business.
What was the gallery’s specialty?
Aicon Gallery became one of the few U.S. Dealerships focused on South Asian art, profiting from commissions on works by deceased and aging Indian painters whose market remained strong despite declines in blue-chip art values.