He also admitted to hoodwinking 15 prominent art galleries and collectors out of more than $1.1 million in other forgeries, according to the plea. In addition to Hendricks, Harrington specialized in passing off forgeries of Richard Hambleton, a street artist who gained fame with his “Shadowman” figures in the 1980s. How Harrington, a native San Diegan with a graphic art design background, became involved in art forgery is not entirely clear. He then turned to his “Shadowman” figures on the sides of buildings and to gallery work, alongside contemporaries Keith Haring and Jean-Michel Basquiat. After buying the piece, the art dealer hung it in a New York contemporary art gallery and listed the painting for sale on a website.

Source: Los Angeles Times August 10, 2021 13:04 UTC