How a father and daughter duped NYC's art world with fake Warhols and Banksys
A father and daughter, Karolina and Erwin Bankowski, pleaded guilty to orchestrating an art forgery scheme that defrauded New York City auction houses of at least $2 million through the sale of fake artworks attributed to artists like Andy Warhol, Banksy, and Andrew Wyeth. The forgeries, produced in Poland, were supported by falsified provenance including forged gallery stamps and antique materials to appear authentic. The case highlights ongoing vulnerabilities in the art market, with experts noting that such fraud is more common than publicly acknowledged.
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National How a father and daughter duped NYC's art world with fake Warhols and Banksys April 30, 20261:52 AM ET By The Associated Press A suspected forgery of an Andrew Wyeth painting is seen at RoGallery in New York, Tuesday, April 28, 2026. Jake Offenhartz/AP hide caption toggle caption Jake Offenhartz/AP NEW YORK — A little over a year ago, the New York City art dealer Robert Rogal received a visit to his private showroom from a young woman, who seemed eager to offload a family heirloom. Introducing herself as Karolina Bankowska, she carried a framed painting signed by Andrew Wyeth, resembling the watercolor landscapes the celebrated artist had completed early in his career.
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