The Basquiat Hustle - by Brett Sokol (Hardcover)

Book Synopsis

The Gardner Heist meets Furious Hours in this scandalous true story of greed, white-collar crime, art forgery, and the incomparable painter Jean-Michel Basquiat.

In 2022, the Orlando Museum of Art opened its doors to the most important exhibit in its history: a make-or-break twenty-five painting showcase of work by the late artist Jean-Michel Basquiat, valued at over $100 million, all unveiled to the public for the first time. But just four months later, the FBI's Art Crime Team would raid the museum and seize all the artworks--now of disputed origin--off the walls. In The Basquiat Hustle, Brett Sokol--the reporter who broke the news of these allegedly fake paintings for The New York Times--unveils the story of one of the modern art world's most elaborate scandals.

The paintings' owners and the museum had said all twenty-five paintings were created in 1982 by a young Basquiat as he lived and worked in a studio owned by famous art dealer Larry Gagosian. Thirty years later, a treasure hunting picker snagged those works supposedly hidden amongst the contents of an auctioned storage unit for about $15,000. If genuine, the Basquiats could now be worth a nine-figure fortune. But as questions swirled about the works' provenance and the circumstances under which they had been created, another decade passed before they made their fated ways to Orlando.

Based on years of research, in-depth interviews, and never before revealed reportage, Sokol delves into the darkest depths of today's big budget art world to tell a fascinating story ripped straight from the headlines. From Basquiat's 1980s, to the shady ways in which art can be authenticated and verified, to the economic pressures felt by art museums, and to the nearly unbelievable characters that populate today's market for irreplaceable masterpieces, The Basquiat Hustle is a riveting account of the defining art world scandal of our time.

About the Author

Brett Sokol writes regularly about art and culture for The New York Times. His writing has also appeared in The Wall Street Journal, The Miami Herald, New York magazine, and The Awl. Additionally, he is the cofounder and editor of Letter16 Press, a nonprofit publishing house focused on the sweet spot between photojournalism and art. Raised in New York, he holds a bachelor's degree from Wesleyan University and a master's degree from Case Western Reserve University, both in history. He lives in Miami Beach and Connecticut.