143 Fake Artworks by Warhol, Haring, and Banksy seized in Reggio, Italy
A total of 143 works of art, falsely attributed to artists Andy Warhol, Keith Haring and Banksy, were seized as part of an investigation coordinated by the Reggio Calabria Public Prosecutor's Office.
The works were exhibited at the "Pop to Street Art: Influences" exhibition, from July 20, 2024 to January 5, 2025 in Reggio, Italy.
The seizure initially involved 133 works; subsequently, by delegation of the Reggio Calabria Prosecutor's Office, an additional 10 works of art were seized that clearly showed signs of counterfeiting attributed to Banksy. These pieces were located and seized in Liège, Belgium, following searches conducted by Belgian authorities.
Simultaneously, during the unannounced investigation, 11 other works of art attributed to the artist were discovered. These works are currently under investigation by Belgian judicial authorities, as investigators believe they exhibit the same "elements of counterfeiting" as those included in the criminal proceedings pending before the Reggio Calabria Public Prosecutor's Office.
"The artworks on display, consisting of paintings, graphic works, and several sculptures," explains Prosecutor Giuseppe Borrelli, "had been loaned as authentic works by a Belgian company to the Reggio Calabria Academy of Fine Arts—the event organizer—for a fee of €50,000. This was executed through a contract that also included the potential for additional revenue from both ticket sales and the sale of related promotional items.