Basquiat Forger Arrested By FBI
The First Art Newspaper on the Net    Established in 1996 Thursday, September 10, 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 10, 2026

Scholten Japanese Art opens Asia Week exhibition featuring rediscovered collection

Jean-Michel Basquiat and Yayoi Kusama lead Christie's evening sale at The Henderson

Morphy's announces October petroliana, automobilia, and vintage advertising sale

Meet Nomad Studios: A New Way to Discover Contemporary African Art

The Frick names Caitlin Henningsen Head of Education and Public Engagement

Smithsonian Secretary Lonnie G. Bunch III announces retirement

Christie's to auction $40m Radiant Modernism collection across London, Paris, and New York

Maruani Mercier presents Jonathan Lasker exhibition surveying four decades of oil studies

Christie's to offer Monsoon founder Peter Simon's art collection during London Marquee Week

Heritage Auctions appoints Whitney Maxwell Chief Marketing Officer

Powerhouse Arts welcomes Cathy Harding as Vice President of Institutional Advancement

Heritage Auctions announces October autumn luxury accessories signature sale

Speed Art Museum names Kathleen V. Jameson, Ph.D., as new Director

Christie's to offer art collection of music mogul Clive Davis

Belgian artist Lisa Vlaemminck debuts new shaped paintings in Brussels

KINDL Berlin announces autumn exhibition programme for Berlin Art Week 2026

Royal College of Art announces dynamic line-up for London Design Festival 2026

Smithsonian's Archives of American Art announces 2026 fall gala honorees

Grande Brera announces expansive 2026-27 season spanning Hayez to Marina Abramović

Gilbert Portanier exhibition in Cannes highlights pioneer of painterly ceramics

Heritage's September 25 Fine & Rare Wine auction offers extraordinary depth from California to Bordeaux

Shohei Ohtani and Michael Jordan rookie cards lead Heritage sports catalog auction

Alfred Ehrhardt Stiftung presents Ramona Schacht exhibition on industrial photography




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