Michael Barzman, a former auctioneer, confessed to creating and authenticating 25 counterfeit Basquiat paintings, confiscated from the Orlando Museum of Art in 2022. Court papers reveal that Barzman, 45, and another man identified only as J.F. fabricated the artworks, which were then falsely presented as previously unknown works by the groundbreaking artist Jean-Michel Basquiat.
The US Attorney’s Office, Central District of California, reports that the duo quickly produced the counterfeit pieces, which were then sold and circulated within the art market. These forgeries formed the core of an exhibition called “Heroes and Monsters” at a Florida gallery, which opened in February 2022. By June, the FBI had seized the counterfeit works.
Barzman acknowledged in his plea agreement that he and J.F. had created most of the displayed pieces. Charged with making false statements to the FBI during an interview in August, Barzman struck a deal to plead guilty to the felony and admitted to various aspects of the scheme.
According to the plea agreement, while J.F. primarily created the art, Barzman, as a former auctioneer, was responsible for authenticating and selling it. They would then split the profits from the sales of these fraudulent paintings.
Jean-Michel Basquiat, who died at 27, was prominent in New York’s East Village art scene during the 1980s. His artworks, which often sell for millions, are part of numerous celebrity collections.
Barzman and J.F. began creating the forgeries in 2012 after devising their plan. At the time, Barzman operated an auction business that primarily bought and resold items from unpaid storage units. He later admitted to falsely claiming in a notarized document that the counterfeit works had been discovered in a storage unit rented by a well-known screenwriter.
In response to the plea agreement, the Orlando Museum of Art expressed its commitment to excellence in the visual arts and eagerness for the Department of Justice to continue its investigation and hold those responsible accountable. Barzman is expected to surrender to federal authorities for an unscheduled court appearance. Making false statements to a government agency carries a maximum penalty of five years in federal prison.
The Orlando Museum of Art has reiterated its dedication to upholding high standards in the visual arts, implementing measures such as enhanced whistleblower protections and collaborating with the American Alliance of Museums to repair its reputation. The institution is eager for the Department of Justice to carry on with its investigation, holding those responsible for the crimes accountable. Barzman has agreed to surrender to federal authorities for a yet-to-be-scheduled court appearance. Making false statements to a government agency carries a maximum penalty of five years in federal prison.
