Banksy forgeries exhibited in Mestre and Cervia spark legal dispute

In Italy, two exhibitions—Banksy Painting Walls at Museo M9 in Mestre and Banksy Cervia at Complesso Espositivo Magazzini del Sale—are facing allegations of showcasing counterfeit artworks attributed to Banksy. Curator Stefano Antonelli has lodged a complaint with authorities, pinpointing three forgeries: Dismaland 3D Rat, Dismaland Monkey TNT, and Love Rat, which he claims could fetch between €1 and €4 million if genuine. He believes these pieces may have come from a Gigart auction held on October 24, 2023. Meanwhile, the Catalan police recently dismantled a forgery ring that had been producing Dismaland-related fakes since August. MetaMorfosi Eventi, led by Pietro Folena, intends to sue Antonelli for defamation, while curator Sabina De Gregori clarified that the artworks were displayed as documentation rather than originals.