Aaron de Groft was accused of ignoring 'red flags' that the artworks were forgeries. Photo: Melanie Metz/NYTNS/Redux/eevine
An art museum in the United States is suing its former director over allegations that he tried to cash in on the sale of 25 fake Jean-Michel Basquiat paintings seized by the FBI in the past year.
The Orlando Museum of Art accused Aaron De Groft of ignoring the «red flags» that the artworks were fakes, as he was promised a «significant share of the proceeds» from their possible sale.
In a lawsuit filed this week in Florida, the museum accused Mr. De Groft of using him to authenticate and sell Basquiat, as well as paintings believed to be Titian and Jackson Pollock.
B In one e-mail quoted in court documents discussing the sale of works of art, he writes: «Then I'll retire with a Maserati [sic] and a Ferrari.»
Paintings allegedly painted by Basquiat were shown as part of a museum exhibition. Exhibition «Heroes and Monsters» in February last year. The FBI raided the gallery and confiscated the artworks four months later.
Created in just five minutes
Michael Barzman, an auctioneer, admitted to a plea deal in April of facilitating counterfeit artworks, saying some were created in as little as in five minutes.
William Force, an art dealer, and his financial backer Leo Mangan have spent years trying to generate interest in works that were allegedly created in 1982 and found in a locker owned by television producer Thaddeus Mumford Jr., who died in 2018.
The museum claims they «easily convinced Mr. De Groft to join their plot.»
It is claimed that Mr. De Groft ignored «every obvious indication» that the paintings were forgeries, including the fact that the cardboard box on which one artwork was drawn had the FedEx logo, which was not used until 1994.
Basquiat died in 1988 at the age of 27. His work has often sold for tens of millions of dollars, the most expensive of which was worth more than $110 million in 2017. the legacy was destroyed» by the scandal. They seek unspecified damages for fraud, collusion, breach of fiduciary duty, and breach of contract. Mr. De Groft denies all wrongdoing.
The paintings, allegedly painted by Basquiat, were shown as part of the museum exhibition «Heroes and Monsters». Photo: Orlando Sentinel/Tribune News Service
Emails and text messages cited in the document include some in which Mr. De Groft mentions an upcoming art sale.
In one, he writes : “It's all part of the plan to exhibit and sell masterpieces. You all couldn't have done this without me. Face to face. If we sell this or that [sic] $100 million, I need 30 percent.
“I have a top notch LA lawyer I work with [sic] to sell these $200 million BasquiIats and another $200 million Pollock. …. Let's not be greedy. Let me sell these Basquiat and Pollock, and then Titian will be next with a track record. Then I'll retire with a Maserati [sic] and a Ferrari.»
Mr De Groft told The New York Times he «categorically» denies any financial arrangements with fake Basquiat or other art owners. . He claims that the works are authentic.
Responding to a question about an email referring to «30 percent», he said: «The only thing I remember they said, more casually, that perhaps we could make a gift to the museum at some point in the future.»
Mark Elliott, chairman of the board of trustees of the Orlando Museum of Art, said the lawsuit «seeks to hold accountable people who, in the opinion of the museum, knowingly misrepresented the works «. «authenticity and provenance.»
The Telegraph reached out to Mr. De Groft for comment.
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