September 30, 2024
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#1031 The Biggest Art Fraud Ring in History
It was the largest art fraud in history. The sheer volume of rip-offs numbering in the thousands. And the scheme that shocked the art world sprang from, of all places, Thunder Bay. How did the fraudsters hatch such a plan from such an unlikely place? And what part did a cold case murder play in finally exposing their cultural crime?
Jesse Brown
Host & Publisher
Bruce Thorson
Senior Producer
Tristan Capacchione
Audio Editor & Technical Producer
max collins
Production Manager
Kevin O'Keefe
Reporter

The late Norval Morrisseau is known as Canada’s Picasso. He was the father of the Woodlands style. His work was exhibited at the Pompidou Center in Paris, the National Gallery of Canada, and he was a member of the Order of Canada. Norval Morrisseau is without question one of the most important painters in Canadian history. So why are so-called original Morrisseau paintings selling on eBay for $129? 

The answer is fraud. The market has been flooded with thousands of fake Norval Morrisseau paintings and prints. In March 2023, eight people were charged and arrested in connection with these fakes and are now starting to be convicted.

The police investigation started, in part, because of the Jamie Kastner documentary There Are No Fakes.

 

Credits: Tristan Capacchione (Audio Editor and Technical Producer), Bruce Thorson (Senior Producer), Kevin O’Keefe (Fact Checking), max collins (Production Manager), Jesse Brown (Host and Publisher)

Featured guests: Ryan McMahon and Jamie Kastner

Additional music by Audio Network

 

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