Basquiat Forger Arrested By FBI
The First Art Newspaper on the Net    Established in 1996 Friday, September 18, 2026


Basquiat Forger Arrested By FBI



NEW YORK.- New York artist Alfredo Martinez has been charged by the Federal Bureau of Investigation with attempting to deceive two art dealers by selling them $185,000 worth of fake drawings by the famed graffiti artist Jean-Michel Basquiat. Martinez, a 300-pound Puerto Rico native, is wellknown on the downtown alternative scene. He has also organized large group exhibitions in vacant industrial spaces, including "Playground of the Fearless" in Brooklyn in late 2001. The charges against Martinez, which landed him in Manhattan’s Metropolitan Correction Center on June 19, 2002, involve an alleged scheme to sell fake Basquiat drawings, accompanied by forged certificates of authenticity, to SoHo dealer Leo Malca and a second art dealer. Martinez’ whereabouts could not be determined, but it has been suggested that Martinez is a "con artist" in more ways than one, and would use his arrest to seek notoriety.



Today's News

September 18, 2026

Jack Rutberg Fine Arts explores Pasadena's overlooked role in the rise of Los Angeles art

Morphy's Oct. 16-17 Coin-Op & Advertising auction features 1,100+ lots of antiques and vintage collectibles

Quinn's Sept. 25 Fine and Decorative Arts Auction features broad range of art

The Met presents Liu Wei's first major US presentation for Genesis Facade Commission

Craig Starr Gallery showcases Louise Bourgeois sculptures and drawings from the 1960s

Aki Sasamoto debuts survey exhibition XYZ at Pirelli HangarBicocca

Sotheby's Paris unveils historic €40m Schlumberger Impressionist collection

Paris exhibition brings together Pablo Picasso and four Catalan sculptor friends

FOMU to launch new exhibitions by Graciela Iturbide, Lonard Pongo, and Lola Pertsowsky

Mai 36 Galerie presents inferno, Hiroki Tsukuda's first solo show with the gallery

i8 Gallery presents solo exhibition of new mosaic works by Janice Kerbel

Bozar presents major William Kentridge exhibition in Brussels

Tobias Kaspar's "Unconditional" explores memory, touch and the changing life of an artwork

Loredana Sperini debuts new ceramics, textiles, and sculptures at Galerie Urs Meile

Hernan Bas debuts new paintings exploring suburban commerce and salesmen

Grazer Kunstverein presents first institutional exhibition of conceptual artist Martin Maloney

Martine Syms debuts new films and concept store at Sadie Coles HQ

Seoul exhibition features over 300 archival items and unreleased footage of artist Oh Yoon

Bruce Silverstein Gallery presents Sarah Sense: Land, Line, Blood, Memory

Haines celebrates the work of leading Native American artists with new exhibition

Csar Garca-Alvarez joins Palm Springs Art Museum

Lvy Gorvy Dayan opens Wangari Mathenge's first solo show with the gallery

VeneKlasen London presents European debut of centenarian artist Ce Roser




Museums, Exhibits, Artists, Milestones, Digital Art, Architecture, Photography,
Photographers, Special Photos, Special Reports, Featured Stories, Auctions, Art Fairs,
Anecdotes, Art Quiz, Education, Mythology, 3D Images, Last Week, .

 




Founder:
Ignacio Villarreal
(1941 - 2019)


Editor: Ofelia Zurbia Betancourt

Art Director: Juan José Sepúlveda Ramírez


Royalville Communications, Inc
produces:

ignaciovillarreal facundocabral-elfinal.org
Founder's Site. Hommage
       
Tell a Friend
Dear User, please complete the form below in order to recommend the Artdaily newsletter to someone you know.
Please complete all fields marked *.
Sending Mail
Sending Successful