The Orlando Museum of Art filed a lawsuit on Monday accusing its former director of seeking to profit from a scheme to show fake paintings that the museum had exhibited as newly discovered works by the celebrated artist Jean-Michel Basquiat, saying that the owners of the paintings had promised him “a significant cut of the proceeds” from their eventual sale.
Lawyers for the museum say in the court papers that they are seeking an unspecified sum in damages for fraud, conspiracy, breach of fiduciary duty and breach of contract.
“The story of how the paintings ended up on the walls of O.M.A.
is a truth stranger than fiction,” said the lawsuit, which was filed in circuit court in Florida.
spent hundreds of thousands of dollars — and unwittingly staked its reputation — on exhibiting the now-admittedly fake paintings.
Persons:
Jean, Michel Basquiat, Aaron De Groft, Groft, ”, “ O.M.A
Organizations:
Orlando Museum of Art
Locations:
O.M.A, Florida