An article in the New York Times explores a corner of the art world that deals in art that is more recognizable than cutting-edge, more pseudo than Surreal. Along with big-ticket names such as Jean-Michel Basquiat and Andy Warhol, galleries like Castle Fine Art and Martin Lawrence sell original artworks by reformed forgers such as John Myatt that mimic popular and recognizable movements like Impressionism or Abstraction but without the intimidating price-tag. According to the article, these moderately-priced and pleasant-looking pieces are especially attractive to first-time buyers used to buying luxury goods, for whom galleries even go out of their way to create a welcoming environment by staying open later and employing staff that have been known to smile.  (more…)

John Myatt, the famous forger who spent years behind bars for his fraudulent versions of works by Monet and other artists, is interviewed this week in The Independent, and comments on the state of fraud investigations in the current art landscape.  “The art industry has been nodding through paintings with extremely dubious histories,” he says. “It’s been colluding with galleries and auction houses for 50 to 60 years and I know the Police Art & Antiques Unit even went to one museum with evidence of fraud and they weren’t interested – they said they were happy that the contagion [of fakes] had now been removed from their archives.” (more…)

‬BBC News comments on the nature of “fake paintings”, referencing infamous art forgers like Han van Meergeren and John Myatt. “Forgers have a certain charm because they are seen to be rebelling against the establishment,” says Philip Mould, BBC presenter and art detective.

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