The art world is ripe with fraud and forgeries as discussed by Elena Goukassian. With new techonologies to determine types of paint and materials used on fake pieces of art work the best way is actually to look at the Provenance (where the artwork has come from in French parlance) and to look at the certificate. Typically on the paperwork is where you will find errors or hints that can make you suspicious and help unlock the clues as to the history and veracity of the paperwork and owner.
The dealer is also a big hint. What does the internet say about them? I had a dealing with Guy Hepner who surprisingly is absent from Howsmydealing.com and it was an absolute nightmare dealing with Jennifer and their scammy art dealing operation. Why is it scammy in my opinion? Well to start there were two pieces of art work purchased by Yayoi Kusama that they advertised as having on their website. Once we agreed on a price and made payment we received the run around on when the pieces would be ready and where they were located. Finally they stated one was in Miami and thus I offered to go pick it up.. I was denied with a back handed excuse. The other piece was allegedly at their framer in New York to which the other owner was denied the ability to go and pick it up with another excuse... Finally with great delays waiting on our pieces from Guy Hepner they agreed they would pay for the framing of the pieces to make up for their delays... So what happened next??? Guy Hepner says we have your Kusama piece but it will now be another $30,000 for this piece. Once legal got involved they grandstanded and acted innocent and said they wouldn't refund the charge for the 2nd piece. With my Kusama piece it was getting framed by my chosen gallery of choice and waiting for payment from Guy Hepner to which Jennifer Guy Hepners right hand scandal partner said we are not going to pay for your framing because the other piece had a lawyer threaten us for not delivering the piece and trying to bait and switch you out of $40,000...
Lets say in the end Jennifer apologized and unwittingly paid for the frame and hopefully others have been warned about the fraud and forgery of unscrupulous art dealers..
Now back to the Artsy piece. Artificial Intelligence and Radio Carbon Dating as well as molecluar analysis will help identify forgeries such as identifying materials that didn't exist prior to 1940 when a piece was created. von Hasburg says in the article “as more information becomes available online, more forgeries come out of the woodwork.” And remember to never let a dealer rush you into a sale. “There are many more fakes than you would expect,” said Keijsers Koning. “If you have any doubt, you shouldn’t buy it.”
Read the whole piece here: https://www.artsy.net/article/artsy-editorial-buying-forgery
If you enjoyed this check out Richart Ruddie Art Collection on Display at Art Daily and additional pieces coming soon for the publics enjoyment of these private pieces.
