The late French Nouveau Réalist artist Arman would have turned 83 on November 17. And his widow, Corice Canton Arman, had a very special birthday present in store, announcing plans to create a museum in his honor in his hometown of Nice. Corice Arman also arranged for the long-term loan of the artist's "Tulip" — a Triumph Spitfire that was exploded and burned — to the Museum of Modern and Contemporary Art in Nice, but not without incident: the artist's other heirs have sued for the work to be returned to his estate.

Corice Canton Arman told Nice-Matin that plans for the museum were still in the very early stages and that the idea had been suggested by Arman himself in 2003. "If this possibility develops, I will think of a prestigious place to install the donation," Nice mayor Christian Estrosi told the paper. "I'm thrilled that Corice is planning this. Arman's works are emblematic of the history of art in the second half of the twentieth century."

As for "Tulip," the work was shown at Arman's 2001 retrospective at the Museum of Modern and Contemporary Art. Before his death, Arman had expressed a desire to show the piece there again on his 83rd birthday in 2011. The artist's other heirs, who include six children from three marriages, have objected that they did not approve the loan and attempted to have marshals block it. This particular contretemps, which stems from the fact that the division of the artist's estate has still not been settled , has yet to be resolved. 

Don't expect it to stop the construction of the Arman museum, however. The heirs indicated that they would be "honored by [the] construction" of an institution dedicated to his works, according to Artclair.