The Orlando Museum of Art has acknowledged that its century-long reputation has been tarnished due to the discovery of counterfeit paintings falsely attributed to Jean-Michel Basquiat. In an effort to seek justice, the museum has filed a lawsuit against individuals believed to have knowingly misrepresented the authenticity and provenance of these works. This includes its former director, Aaron De Groft, as stated by the chair of the museum’s board of trustees. The FBI confiscated 25 paintings attributed to Basquiat from the museum last year. Auctioneer Michael Barzman later pleaded guilty to federal charges, confessing that he and an accomplice created the paintings in 2012 and sold them as genuine Basquiats to cover medical expenses.
However, the lawsuit alleges that De Groft, who organized the exhibit, also aimed to profit from the scheme by using the museum to legitimize the works. The owners of these paintings had promised De Groft a significant portion of the proceeds from their future sale. As authentic Basquiats, the paintings were estimated to be worth $100 million. The lawsuit cites a 2022 email in which De Groft allegedly requested 30% of the sale proceeds. He also discussed plans to sell paintings by Titian and Jackson Pollock, whose provenance was reportedly questionable, stating his intentions to retire with luxury cars.
The lawsuit further claims that De Groft ignored numerous red flags, disregarded concerns raised by museum employees about the paintings’ authenticity, and concealed the FBI investigation for nearly a year. The suit emphasizes the extensive effort required for the Orlando Museum of Art to rebuild its reputation and regain the trust of donors, acknowledging the potential difficulty of overcoming the damage caused by the defendants. De Groft, who was terminated shortly after the FBI raid, denies any agreement in which he would profit from the sale of the works. He, along with the owners of the paintings, who are accused of fraud, conspiracy, breach of fiduciary duty, and breach of contract, maintains that the paintings are genuine Basquiats and argues that Barzman is lying.
In conclusion, the Orlando Museum of Art seeks justice after discovering counterfeit Basquiat paintings within its collection. It is taking legal action against individuals involved in misrepresenting the authenticity of these works, with allegations of a profit-driven motive. The museum aims to recover its reputation and restore the trust of its donors.
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