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Don’t Blame Me: How the Art Market Battles Forgeries

November 13, 2025

Center for art law fakes art DNA tagging

By Shaila Gray

In May of 2025, federal prosecutors revealed that 77-yers old Pennsylvania resident Carter Reese, once known for being Taylor Swift’s former neighbor, made news for running an illicit enterprise. In September, Reese pled guilty to selling forged works he falsely attributed to marquee names: Picasso, Warhol, and Basquiat, among others. Reese admitted to the court that the paintings he passed off as originals were imitations, leaving duped buyers and rattled auction houses in his wake.^{^[1]}

The story reads like a movie script, even if the penalties and amounts in dispute are meager (60 days in prison, two years of supervised release with four months on home detention, a $50,000 fine, and restitution of $186,125), one that even a Hollywood producer might deem too implausible: a suburban aging figure with access to high-society networks, peddling fakes of the most scrutinized artists of the 20th century. And yet, Reese’s case is hardly unique; just a few years prior, a Californian auctioneer by the name of Michael Barzman admitted to forging dozens of Basquiats that were sold to collectors and eventually displayed in museums.^{^[2]} This is not a problem reserved for the contemporary art market. Antiquities smuggling rings are alive and thriving, with a dealer of Egyptian artifacts tied to the British museum being arrested just this past August.^{^[3]}

If Reese’s suburban scheme was shocking in its sheer audacity, a raid in Rome the following month was alarming for its scale. Italian police discovered a veritable forgery workshop, filled with canvases in progress and tools used to age materials more convincingly.^{^[4]} Together, these cases point to an art market becoming increasingly vulnerable to deception and fraud. But, they also raise sharper questions: What are the legal implications of selling or buying fakes? How are fakes detected in an era in which technology can both expose them and simultaneously make them harder to detect? And what mechanisms might keep this from happening again?

The Legal Weight of a Fake

At its core, forgeries are more than just artistic deceit— they often violate multiple federal statutes. In some cases, the person may be prosecuted for fraud; in others, for false statements or misrepresentations. The cases of Barzman and Reese are excellent case studies demonstrating the variety of legal violations that can be applied to forgeries.

False Statements to Federal Agents (18 U.S.C. § 1001)

Auctioneer Barzman admitted lying to FBI agents about creating Basquiat paintings. He falsely claimed a well-known screenwriter previously owned the pieces and accordingly attempted to mislead the investigation regarding the works’ origin.^{^[5]} These lies are considered “materially false” under 18 U.S.C. § 1001 (2021)— meaning, in this situation, that the statements were capable of influencing the actions of the FBI. Barzman’s admission exposed him to felony charges and up to five years in prison.^{^[6]}

Wire Fraud (18 U.S.C. § 1343) & Mail Fraud (18 U.S.C. § 1341)

Forger Reese was charged with one count of wire fraud and one count of mail fraud. From roughly February 2019 and through March 2021, Reese sold or attempted to sell art he represented as genuine works by famous artists.^{^[7]} Furthermore, he used communications across state lines (electronic, telephone, internet, etc.) and physical mailing systems to market and deliver these fake works— precisely what 18 U.S.C. §§ 1341, 1343 (2021) address.^{^[8]}

Fraud, Misrepresentation, and Deceptive Trade Practices

Beyond just criminal statutes, both cases also involved the wrongful representations of authorship and provenance. Reese sold works with the knowledge that they were fakes; Barzman forged provenance documents and misled buyers and investigators.^{^[9]} These misrepresentations not only trigger? criminal statutes when connected to mail fraud, fraud, or wire fraud, but also give rise to civil liability— buyers can sue for damages, and the market can pursue remedies for deceptive trade practices when representations are false.

Knowing Intent and Materiality

These cases underscore that liability typically depends on knowingly making false statements or misrepresentations, and that falsehoods must be material, something capable of influencing the decision-making of buyers, agents, or law enforcement. In the case of Barzman, he admitted at the time of his false statements, he understood the works were not genuine; similarly, in Reese’s case, he “knew the pieces were fake,” per the plea.^{^[10]} That awareness is central in establishing culpability under fraud, mail and wire fraud, and § 1001.

But, while knowing that there are legal implications to the sale of fakes may be reassuring, there are still precautions that need to be taken to prevent such fraud from occurring in the first place.

Conditional Authenticity and the Limits of Appraisals

One of the market’s current defensive tools are conditional authenticity reports— a kind of safe-bet opinion that ArtNews describes as “an appraisal with a caveat,” attempting to “skirt the legal liability that certainty might incur.”^{^[11]} These reports, typically a signal of “incomplete research,” provide appraisals of work that are usually conditional on the verification of external factors like provenance.^{^[12]}

Such reports do serve some purpose, as they can help experts avoid being dragged into lawsuits when new information regarding a work’s authenticity emerges (say, in the Barzman case, postage stamps on a canvas dating to after the alleged artist’s death).^{^[13]} As ArtNews reports, “both the Andy Warhol estate and the Jean-Michel Basquiat estate famously disbanded their authentication boards in 2012” as a result of legal issues regarding authenticity of works.^{^[14]}

However, the reports do still leave room for confusion and doubt surrounding authenticity. Sellers might choose to lean into these appraisals as a green light for investment; collectors might interpret that language negatively and avoid purchasing pieces. Furthermore, it is important to note that these appraisals are not certificates of authenticity—“appraisal and authentication are typically two separate processes handled by two different experts.”^{^[15]} This blurred line can serve as a double-edged sword, undermining trust rather than bolstering it.

Science in the Studio: Artist DNA

A newer approach to determining authenticity is also being explored: DNA. As Hyperallergic explained, scientists are exploring the possibility of verifying authenticity through traces of the artist’s DNA left on the artworks. Through DNA extracted from living artists and their relatives, a “biome profile” can be assembled, which would then be matched against the DNA found on an artwork to determine if the work is truly authentic.^{^[16]} This method could also be used with the DNA of well-known forgers— only, in those cases, a match would mean that a work is almost certainly a fake.

But, with this method comes major risks. Hyperallergic notes that if the DNA were to become available, it could “be synthesized, allowing a forger with access to DNA replication” to make the work appear authentic.^{^[17]} In other words, the very marker that is designed to guarantee authenticity could itself stand to be counterfeited.

AI vs. Forgery

While AI is a contentious subject in the art world, one thing is undeniable— it has the potential to be a powerful tool in fighting back against forgeries. In response to the forgery market, estates and research groups have begun developing specialized systems designed “to help determine the probability of an authentic painting.”^{^[18]} Detection technology, like Art Recognition and Norval AI, rely on “the latest deep learning and visual recognition techniques to analyse paintings,” providing a more data-driven assessment that complements human connoisseurship.^{^[19]}

However, training such systems presents an interesting conundrum: in order for the technology to operate at maximum efficiency, it requires examples of both real and fake works. This led to engineers collaborating with robotics companies to produce “very accurate reproductions” through art-generating AI, with the AI detection software providing feedback that help the art-generating AI then produce better fakes.^{^[20]} The result is a feedback loop in which technology improves both sides of the equation: robots capable of creating replications so convincing they sharpen the AI’s ability to tell genuine works from fraudulent ones.

Setting Standards: ArtID

While burgeoning innovative solutions may materialize in the future, standards may provide the missing glue. The Art Identification Standard (ArtID) describes its goal as working to establish “a new universal standard for uniquely identifying artworks,” using blockchain technologies to establish a “parent ID interoperable across multiple platforms.”^{^[21]} Essentially, it aims to create what amounts to a ‘passport’ for art: a record combining metadata, provenance, and scientific testing.

According to the ArtID website, each work registered with the program will have “unique identifiers” that can be used across different institutions, customs agencies, and auction houses, allowing patrons to easily identify works as authentic.^{^[22]} The goal is that a Picasso with an ArtID record would be instantly verifiable, reducing the space for forged works to circulate undetected. For collectors, this means confidence that a purchased piece has been verified through an internationally recognized process; for auction houses and galleries, it provides a safeguard against liability, reducing the risk of being caught in forgery scandals.

Still, this system stresses that participation is key. Broad adoption across all groups (artists, galleries, collectors, etc.) is essential, as even the strongest of identifiers will fail if only a fraction of the market uses it. Without consensus, forgers can simply bypass the system, selling their fakes in less-regulated corners of the art trade.

What is Next?

Looking ahead, the art world faces a choice— continuing to react case by case, or adopting more proactive systems that make deception harder to achieve. Artists have a role to play to create lists of their works contemporaneously. The market’s defenses will likely be layered: clearer language in conditional appraisals, wider use of the DNA tagging system, the larger integration of AI, and standardization systems of identification will soon become the norm.

None of these tools are foolproof, which is deflating. Forgeries can adapt; markets can evolve; and technology can be misused as easily as they can be enforced. But together, they offer a more complex defense. The challenge from here on lies not in invention, but in adoption— convincing artists, estates, and collectors that participation in tagging and other initiatives is worth the effort and cost.

Select References:

^{Jacobs, Harrison,}^{Taylor Swift’s Ex-Neighbor Sentenced for Selling Fake Picassos, Basquiats}^{, ArtNews, September 15, 2025.}^{https://www.artnews.com/art-news/news/taylor-swift-ex-neighbor-sentenced-selling-fake-picassos-basquiats-1234751795/} ↑
^{Art Law & More,}^{Californian Auctioneer Pleads Guilty to Forging Up to 30 Jean-Michel Basquiat Paintings}^{, Art Law & More, April 21, 2023.}^{https://artlawandmore.com/2023/04/21/californian-auctioneer-pleads-guilty-to-forging-up-to-30-jean-michel-basquiat-paintings/} ↑
^{Tahir, Tahir,}^{‘Prodigious’ Egyptian antiquities smuggler linked to British Museum jailed}^{, The National, August 27, 2025.}^{https://www.thenationalnews.com/news/mena/2025/08/27/jail-looms-for-prodigious-egyptian-antiquities-smuggler-linked-to-british-museum/} ↑
Ditmars, Hadani, Art Forgery Workshop Busted by Italian Police in Rome, ArtNews, May 10, 2025. https://www.artnews.com/art-news/news/art-forgery-workshop-busted-by-italian-police-rome-1234732858/ ↑
^{U.S. Department of Justice,}^{NoHo Man Admits Lying to FBI about His Role in Creating Fake Basquiat Paintings Seized Last Summer from Florida Museum}^{, Central District of California, April 11, 2023. [}^{https://www.justice.gov/usao-cdca/pr/noho-man-admits-lying-fbi-about-his-role-creating-fake-basquiat-paintings-seized-last](https://www.justice.gov/usao-cdca/pr/noho-man-admits-lying-fbi-about-his-role-creating-fake-basquiat-paintings-seized-last)} ↑
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United States Attorney’s Office, Eastern District of Pennsylvania, Berks County Man Sentenced for Art Fraud Scheme, September 18, 2025. https://www.justice.gov/usao-edpa/pr/berks-county-man-sentenced-art-fraud-scheme ↑
Id. ↑
^{NoHo Man Admits Lying to FBI about His Role in Creating Fake Basquiat Paintings Seized Last Summer from Florida Museum}^{, U.S. ATTORNEY’S OFFICE, CENTRAL DISTRICT OF CALIFORNIA (April 11, 2023), [}^{https://www.justice.gov/usao-cdca/pr/noho-man-admits-lying-fbi-about-his-role-creating-fake-basquiat-paintings-seized-last]}; United States Attorney’s Office, Eastern District of Pennsylvania, Berks County Man Sentenced for Art Fraud Scheme, September 18, 2025. https://www.justice.gov/usao-edpa/pr/berks-county-man-sentenced-art-fraud-scheme ↑
Harrison Jacobs, Taylor Swift’s Ex-Neighbor Sentenced for Selling Fake Picassos, Basquiats, ARTNEWS, (September 15, 2025), https://www.artnews.com/art-news/news/taylor-swift-ex-neighbor-sentenced-selling-fake-picassos-basquiats-1234751795/ ↑
Nelson, George, Conditional Authentication Reports Are Making Industry Murkier, May 29, 2025, ArtNews. https://www.artnews.com/art-news/news/conditional-authenticity-appraisal-reports-recent-cases-1234743745 ↑
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Rayman, Eric, Can An Artist’s DNA Help Detect Forgeries? Hyperallergic, July 15, 2025. https://hyperallergic.com/1027617/can-an-artists-dna-help-detect-forgeries/ ↑
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Ditmars, Hadani, How AI-Trained Robots Are Helping to Root Out Fake Paintings Tied to a Notorious Forgery Case, The Art Newspaper, August 11, 2025. https://www.theartnewspaper.com/2025/09/16/how-ai-trained-robots-are-helping-to-root-out-fake-paintings-tied-to-a-notorious-forgery-case ↑
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Art Identification Standard, Building an Industry Wide Standard for Artwork Identification, ArtID Standard. https://www.artidstandard.org/ ↑
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Disclaimer: This article is for educational purposes only and is not meant to provide legal advice. Readers should not construe or rely on any comment or statement in this article as legal advice. For legal advice, readers should seek a consultation with an attorney.