FBI seizes 25 Basquiat works from Orlando Museum of Art amid authenticity probe
On June 24, the FBI's Art Crime Team conducted a raid at the Orlando Museum of Art, confiscating 25 paintings linked to Jean-Michel Basquiat (1960–1988) from the 'Heroes & Monsters: Jean-Michel Basquiat' exhibition, which commenced in February. Museum representatives and owners asserted that the artworks were retrieved from a storage facility in Los Angeles back in 2012. The inquiry is focused on the exhibition rather than the museum itself. Concerns regarding the paintings' authenticity were raised by gallerist Larry Gagosian and a former FedEx designer. The search warrant mentions potential conspiracy and wire fraud. While forensic handwriting expert James Blanco and others affirm their authenticity, skepticism persists due to Sotheby's refusal to validate the pieces. Valued at over $100 million, the paintings were scheduled to depart for Italy on June 30.
Key facts
- FBI seized 25 Basquiat paintings from Orlando Museum of Art on June 24
- Works were part of exhibition 'Heroes & Monsters: Jean-Michel Basquiat'
- Owners claimed works were recovered from a Los Angeles storage unit in 2012
- Larry Gagosian called the provenance story 'highly improbable'
- A FedEx designer identified a typeface from 1994 on a cardboard support
- Search warrant cites possible conspiracy and wire fraud
- Basquiat authentication committee dissolved in 2012
- Works potentially worth over $100 million
Entities
Artists
- Jean-Michel Basquiat
Institutions
- FBI
- Art Crime Team
- Orlando Museum of Art
- New York Times
- FedEx
- Sotheby's
- University of Maryland
Locations
- Florida
- New York
- Los Angeles
- Orlando
- Italy