Italian Police Seize 143 Fake Warhol, Haring, and Banksy Works in Transnational Forgery Bust
Italian officials confiscated 143 forged artworks claimed to be by Andy Warhol, Keith Haring, and Banksy, which were part of the exhibition 'Pop to Street Art: Influences' at the Academy of Fine Arts of Reggio Calabria, running from July 2024 to January 2025. The artworks were loaned by a Belgian firm for approximately fifty thousand euros. Authorities discovered a scheme of 'documentary laundering' that involved counterfeit certificates and stamps. Three Belgian individuals are under investigation, with two facing charges in Liège. Launched in 2023 by the Pisa prosecutor's office, Operation Cariatide exposed a forgery ring spanning Italy, Spain, France, and Belgium, resulting in the seizure of over 2,100 counterfeit pieces valued at about 200 million euros. Eleven pieces are currently being examined for potential forgery and fraud charges.
Key facts
- 143 counterfeit artworks by Andy Warhol, Keith Haring, and Banksy were seized.
- The fakes were displayed in 'Pop to Street Art: Influences' in Reggio Calabria from July 2024 to January 2025.
- A Belgian company provided the works under a €50,000 loan contract.
- Three Belgian nationals are suspects, with two indicted in Liège.
- The investigation, Operation Cariatide, began in 2023 with Eurojust coordination.
- Over 2,100 fake works by multiple artists worth ~€200 million have been seized across Europe.
- Forgery workshops were found in Tuscany and Venice.
- Eleven works are still under expert review.
Entities
Artists
- Andy Warhol
- Keith Haring
- Banksy
- Picasso
- Modigliani
- Monet
- Klimt
Institutions
- Academy of Fine Arts of Reggio Calabria
- Casa della Cultura 'P. Crupi'
- National Archaeological Museum
- Eurojust
- Guardian
- Victoria & Albert Museum
Locations
- Reggio Calabria
- Italy
- Liège
- Belgium
- Pisa
- Spain
- France
- Tuscany
- Venice
- London
- United Kingdom