The Art of the Con: The Most Notorious Fakes, Frauds, and Forgeries in the Art World

Anthony M. Amore

Meeting: Thursday, August 15 @ 6-7:30 PM

Location: Kelly-McKenna Gallery, 1308 Third Avenue, Spring Lake, NJ

Summary: Art scams are today so numerous that the specter of a lawsuit arising from a mistaken attribution has scared many experts away from the business of authentication and forgery, and with good reason. These scams are increasingly convincing and involve incredible sums of money, with elaborate cons perpetrated by unscrupulous art dealers and their accomplices. Anthony M. Amore's The Art of the Con tells the stories of some of history's most notorious yet untold cons, involving stolen art hidden for decades, elaborate ruses with ties to the Nazis and allegedly plundered art, theft of a conceptual prototype by an artist's assistant to create copies, and scams through online and television auction sites that swindle buyers out of millions. Using interviews and newly released court documents, The Art of the Con also delves into the investigations that led to the capture of these con men, who often return to crime driven by an irresistible urge, exploiting the common desire of their innocent dupes to believe.

About Art Book Club: We meet the third Thursday of every month at Kelly-McKenna Gallery to discuss all topics art, architecture, and design adjacent. 

You can follow us on Instagram: @kmgbookclub

You can purchase our monthly reading selections at Thunder Road Books; (973) 436-0914.

Our monthly wine selection is available at Bottle Shop of Spring Lake; (732) 449-5525