DON’T BE FOOLED ask the Artsperts by Kristine Meek and Juliana Meek

Dear Artsperts,
How common is it for an artist’s work to be faked? Is it just major, historic artists who are faked?
Signed,
Fooled

Dear Fooled,

An example of a real Adolf Dehn painting, though the artist is often faked.
“Central Park” by Adolf Dehn, Watercolor, 21” x 29”, 1942 (in private collection)

It isn’t just the major, historic artists who are commonly known falling victim to replication with fake works circulating in the art market. It may even be more common for the lesser known artists to be faked because those in the industry won’t be as on-guard about taking the work on consignment and trusting the story of the owner without proof of provenance. Unfortunately, these fakes will then be placed for sale. Art collectors trust the expertise of galleries and auction houses to verify works are genuine. However, fake works can fool the experts and unwary collectors will fall for purchasing a work that is a fake.

When we see fake works of artists we represent and have knowledge on come up at auction, we do our best to notify the auction houses that the work is fake. Increasingly and surprisingly, auction houses are less inclined lately to take our direct knowledge of an artist and their body of work to remove a fake from an upcoming auction. This is risky behavior on the auction house because they could be held liable for selling fake works of art. If an appraiser calls our gallery to ask about a work and we know it is a fake, the fake work will have no value and the auction house will be liable to the purchaser. This means that buyers really need to be aware that sources of art cannot always be trusted.

An example of a real Hunt Slonem painting, though this artist is often faked, especially
the bunnies. “Light Blue Bunny” by Hunt Slonem, oil on wood, 10” x 8”, 2024

A couple years ago, a Hunt Slonem was seen in a local consignment shop. When I was shown a photo, I knew the work was a fake because the owner had tried to get my gallery to authenticate it based on a photo. I didn’t think it looked real and her story changed a bit on how she got it. Nonetheless, I did not need to authenticate it since Hunt Slonem is alive and can tell me himself if he had painted it. I emailed the photo to Slonem who confirmed it was indeed a fake. I told the owner that it was a fake. I called the owner of the consignment store who listened to me and thanked me for letting her know, because stores are liable for selling fakes.

Recently two separate auctions had fake paintings by Adolf Dehn (1895-1968), whose estate has been represented by our Gallery since 1980. We contacted both auction houses to notify them the works they were claiming to be Adolf Dehn’s were not part of his body of work and in both cases, unfortunately for the buyers, the auction houses chose to ignore our warning. Auctions continue to be a buyer beware situation.

Sincerely,
The Artsperts

www.HarmonMeek.com

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