A New Jersey father and daughter admitted in federal court to orchestrating one of the art world's most brazen forgery rings, duping major auction houses and collectors out of millions by peddling hundreds of counterfeit paintings masquerading as works by Picasso, Banksy, Warhol and other titans.
Erwin Bankowski, 50, and his daughter Karolina Bankowska, 26, both Polish citizens, hired an artist in Poland beginning in 2020 to produce at least 200 forged paintings. The scheme netted them at least $2 million before federal authorities shut it down. At their court appearance Tuesday in New York, both expressed remorse for the fraud.
The counterfeits targeted works by deceased or prolific artists, focusing on lesser-known pieces that would be harder to verify. The pair forged authentication stamps designed to mimic galleries long out of business, lending false provenance to their creations. They even sourced antique paper to give the fakes credibility.
One forged painting attributed to Richard Mayhew sold at auction house DuMouchelles last October for $160,000, making it the scheme's single biggest score. The sale alerted investigators and ultimately unraveled the operation. Other major houses including Bonhams, Phillips and Freeman's were also targeted, though they declined to comment on their involvement.
The pair pleaded guilty to wire fraud conspiracy and misrepresenting Native American-produced goods, a charge related to their duplication of work by Luiseño artist Fritz Scholder. Under federal guidelines, they face more than three years in prison and owe $1.9 million in restitution. Karolina Bankowska has already placed over $1 million in escrow.
In her court statement, Karolina told the judge her conduct was wrong and she accepted guilt. Her father, speaking through a Polish interpreter, apologized as well, with his attorney noting he had made the decision to support his family. Both could face deportation to Poland upon completion of any prison sentence.
The scheme unraveled after irregularities emerged. In March 2023, representatives for artist Raimonds Staprans discovered a forged painting titled Triple Boats offered for sale at an auction house. That work sold for $60,000 before suspicions closed in. Experts later found telling details: a forged Andrew Wyeth piece bore a gallery stamp dated 1976 but included a zoning address number discontinued in 1962.
U.S. Attorney Joseph Nocella Jr called the guilty pleas a victory against deception. "For years, these defendants painted themselves as purveyors of fine art while selling lies on canvas to unsuspecting collectors," he said. "Today's convictions strip away the varnish and reveal the fraud underneath."
Erin Thompson, a professor of art crime at City University of New York, described the case as textbook forgery but noted an uncomfortable truth about the art market. "The only unusual thing about this case is that the forgers got caught," Thompson said. "People think of the art world as a genteel place full of cultured people. You should assume there are a lot more fakes out there."
Author James Rodriguez: "This case strips the romance from collecting and reveals the art world's vulnerability to sophisticated fraud, a reminder that even prestigious auction houses can't always spot a well-executed fake."
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