The art market is estimated to be worth over $45 billion and many analysts believe that at least half of the artwork circulated within it is fake. The more successful an artist becomes, the more likely their work is to be counterfeited.
Thankfully, authenticators have identified tell-tale clues that can help you identify a forgery. Below we've broken down five ways to spot fake work from Keith Haring, KAWS, Banksy, and Warhol, just in case you wanted to start building your own legit collection or, you know, just show off a bit.
Haring
1. If the signature is big, think twice
Haring always signed his work but was sure to make sure it didn't draw attention from the subject of the piece. If the first thing you notice is the signature, chances are it's not it.
2. Look for asymmetry and tearing on the edges of his “Subway Drawings"
Between 1980 to 1985, Haring produced up to 3,000 “Subway Drawings." A genuine example would have had to have been torn from the walls of the New York subway so look for raggedy edges and remnants from other posters.
3. Check the provenance
The more elaborate the artwork's backstory – the more skeptical you should be. Someone trying to pass off a fake might insist the work was a gift from a boyfriend who has passed away, making the story difficult to corroborate. Make sure the list of previous owners has been verified and don’t rely on declarations by the seller.
4. Forgers love Crawling Babies and Barking Dogs
The Crawling Babies and Barking Dog are perhaps Haring's most recognizable motifs, which is why they are so often used in forgeries.
5. Look for unbroken lines
Counterfeiters struggle to replicate Haring's incredible draftsmanship. A hesitant line that isn't continuous is a good indicator of a fade.
KAWS
1. Check the font on the packaging
This is where forgers tend to slack. Fake companies will often miss-size or exclude elements of the font and text.
2. The color gives it away
Genuine KAWS will always use true colors while knockoffs will use cheap dyes. See here for comparison.
3. The eyes never lie
One of the quickest ways to spot a fake is in the eyes. If the crosses are too even and don't reduce to a point, it's probably counterfeit.
4. Check the density
Authentic KAWS companions shouldn't feel hollow.
5. Cross-reference
It always pays to cross-reference the piece with KAWS's official releases.
Banksy
1. Busy location meets a political subject
While other graffiti artists go for railway lines and areas with low foot-traffic, Banksy aims for the wider public by targeting busy locations.
2. Ask a local
Banksy reportedly asks for permission before executing a mural on a residential property so it's worth checking with the owner.
3. Look for detail
Impersonators are usually in a rush and will only use one stencil so the works lack detail. Banksy, on the other hand, uses multi-layered stencils.
4. Pay attention to the signature
The signature should be a blocky, stenciled "Banksy." The only trouble is, after a while, he stopped signing them.
5. Check with Pest Control
They're the office that handles the paperwork for Banksy. They keep detailed records of all the artwork, answer inquiries, and are the sole point of contact for the artist.
Warhol
1. Look for inconsistencies
Warhol would vary the amount of ink he squeegeed through the silkscreen, creating idiosyncracies that forgers can't duplicate.
2. Beware of “Marilyn” Prints
Warhol's “Marilyn” prints are his most commonly faked. Here, forgers often stumble over the hand-drawn “slash” used to separate the individual number of the print from the edition size.
3. Look for fading
If it's in mint condition, something is fishy. Warhol’s classic prints series (the “Flowers,” “Campbell’s Soup Cans,” and “Electric Chairs”) are often faded. Print shops have tried to "refresh" them by rescreening them but this actually renders them far less valuable.
4. Fake Mick Jagger is big right now
Fake Mick Jagger paintings have been making the rounds recently but he only did only made eight of them all up so chances are, if you come across one, it's not real.
5. Avoid Mickey Mouse drawing in Sharpie
In his pre-Pop period, Warhol sketched Mickey Mouse drawings with graphite, on high-quality paper, utilizing his “overhead projector” tracing technique. Forgers will try to replicate the series with Sharpies on cloth napkins and handkerchiefs, that's a red flag.
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