Former Orlando Museum Director Aaron De Groft, Linked to Basquiat Forgery Scandal, Dies at 59
Known for his controversial role in the Basquiat forgery scandal, which led to an FBI raid and legal battles, his death comes amid ongoing fallout from the case that shook the art world.
In a dramatic twist to one of the art world's most controversial sagas, Aaron De Groft, the former director of the Orlando Museum of Art embroiled in the Basquiat forgery scandal, has passed away at 59. De Groft, who resigned in 2022 after the FBI raided the museum over the exhibition of 25 allegedly forged Jean-Michel Basquiat paintings, died following a brief illness.
The forged Basquiat paintings, reportedly discovered in a storage locker decades after the artist’s death, triggered skepticism due to anomalies like a FedEx logo that didn’t exist until years after Basquiat’s passing. De Groft had staunchly defended the exhibit’s authenticity, even after evidence suggested otherwise.
The FBI seized the works in 2022, later uncovering that the pieces were created by Los Angeles auctioneer Michael Barzman and an accomplice. Barzman pleaded guilty in 2023 to fabricating the paintings and falsely attributing them to Basquiat.
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De Groft’s tenure and abrupt departure left the Orlando Museum embroiled in lawsuits. The institution accused him of fraud and conspiracy, while De Groft counterclaimed for wrongful termination, alleging he was scapegoated for decisions made collectively by the board and legal advisors.
His death closes a controversial chapter but leaves lingering questions about accountability in the high-stakes art world, where even institutions can become entangled in deception.
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