Jasper Johns testifies in Manhattan federal court over alleged fake sculptures
On Thursday, Jasper Johns appeared in Federal District Court in Manhattan to provide testimony in a fraud case against Brian Ramnarine, the former proprietor of Empire Bronze Art Foundry located in Long Island City, Queens. Ramnarine faces allegations of producing and attempting to sell a minimum of 13 counterfeit sculptures from 2010 to 2013, which includes one of Johns's distinctive 'flag' sculptures. In his court statement, Johns revealed that Ramnarine did not return one of his molds and presented an unauthorized cast of a flag sculpture that he did not recognize, which he attributed to Ramnarine. The proceedings are ongoing, with Johns, an elusive artist from New York, playing a crucial role in the case.
Key facts
- Jasper Johns testified in Federal District Court in Manhattan on Thursday
- Brian Ramnarine is accused of creating and attempting to sell at least 13 fake sculptures between 2010 and 2013
- Ramnarine owned Empire Bronze Art Foundry in Long Island City, Queens
- One of the fake sculptures was a rare 'flag' sculpture by Jasper Johns
- Johns stated that Ramnarine failed to return one of his molds
- Johns was shown an unauthorized cast of a flag sculpture he did not recognize
- Johns attributed the unauthorized cast to Brian Ramnarine
- The case is ongoing
Entities
Artists
- Jasper Johns
Institutions
- Federal District Court
- Empire Bronze Art Foundry
- The New York Times
Locations
- Manhattan
- New York
- Long Island City
- Queens