Reggio Calabria - The Carabinieri Unit for the Protection of Cultural Heritage (TPC) from Cosenza, under the direction of the Reggio Calabria public prosecutor's office, has confiscated numerous works of art on suspicion of forgery. Specifically, 133 works were falsely attributed to Andy Warhol and Keith Haring. These were on display from July 20, 2024 to January 5, 2025 as part of the „Pop to Street Art: Influences“ exhibition at three locations in the city center: the Academy of Fine Arts, the „P. Crupi“ House of Culture and the National Archaeological Museum.
International investigations in Belgium
The investigation quickly spread abroad thanks to international legal assistance. In Liège, Belgium, a further ten counterfeit works falsely attributed to Banksy were seized. A further eleven works were also discovered there, which are currently being checked by the Belgian authorities for the same counterfeit features.
The exhibits, including paintings, prints and sculptures, had been lent to the Academy of Fine Arts in Reggio Calabria by a Belgian company. A sum of 50,000 euros was contractually agreed for this loan of supposedly authentic works, plus the possibility of further income from ticket sales and merchandising.
Organized criminal network
The Carabinieri's scientific investigations confirmed that the exhibits were, without exception, forgeries, some of which were even grossly flawed. Searches in Belgium against three Belgian nationals and their companies yielded further evidence. Two people, including the owner of the Belgian rental company, are under investigation and the involvement of a third Belgian is currently being investigated.
The public prosecutor's office assumes a complex criminal system that specializes in the serial production of pop art forgeries in order to deceive unsuspecting visitors and organizers with Europe-wide exhibitions. The presumption of innocence continues to apply, as the case is still in the preliminary investigation phase.
