Seizure of more than 1,000 fraudulent works attributed to the “Picasso du Nord”

It’s a clean sweep that has been awaited for years by connoisseurs. Ontario police announced Friday the arrest of several counterfeiters and the seizure of more than 1,000 fraudulent works attributed to the world-renowned Indigenous artist Norval Morrisseau, nicknamed the “Picasso of the North”. Investigators believe that Quebecers were probably cheated by the suspects and invite collectors to verify the authenticity of their purchases.

Eight suspects from three fraud groups were arrested Wednesday following a joint investigation by Thunder Bay Police and the Ontario Provincial Police. They are notably accused of fraud, manufacture and use of forgery, concealment and gangsterism. A nephew of Norval Morrisseau is among the accused.

Investigators claim to have uncovered a massive production and distribution of paintings, prints and artworks, sometimes with false certificates of authenticity, falsely attributed to Anishinaabe Nation artist Bingwi Neyaashi. Fakes were sold over the Internet to Canadian and international customers, notably in the United States but sometimes as far away as Germany and China. Even museums would have been caught.

Help from the FBI

Thunder Bay Police Case Manager Staff Sergeant Jason Rybak explained in an interview with The Press that it was during a murder investigation that he became interested in the trafficking of counterfeit works of art. A source suggested he watch the documentary There Are No Fakes, because a passage of the film possibly gave clues to the death of his victim. The film follows the adventures of a member of the Barenaked Ladies group who is cheated by buying a fake Morrisseau painting, then explores the underside of the production of fakes in the Thunder Bay region.

“We started doing searches and seizing fake paintings,” says Rybak.

“I had never conducted such an investigation, so I contacted the FBI’s art crimes team in Los Angeles, who guided us,” the policeman said. Three Thunder Bay police officers have been released for two and a half years to focus on this file. The Ontario Provincial Police also joined the investigation to broaden the hunt.

“This investigation is not over. It’s a multi-faceted investigation with multiple witness statements and the use of technology to determine if a work was fake. But we are not able to help every person determine if a work is fake. We encourage citizens to seek legal advice if they have questions, ”says Inspector Kevin Veilleux, of the provincial police.

Police say that even before Norval Morrisseau’s death in 2007, rumors were circulating about forgers impersonating his name. “His contributions and global success may have made him an easy target for fraud,” Assistant Provincial Police Commissioner Kari Dart said at a press conference.

An artist who caused “shock and amazement”

“The fraud around his name is quite enormous, we’ve been hearing about it for a long time,” confirms Guy Sioui-Durand, a Wendat specialist in North American Native art, member of the community of Wendake, near Quebec.

Mr. Sioui-Durand says that demand remains strong worldwide for the works of Morrisseau, who also bore the traditional name of Copper Thunderbird, given the power of his art.

“He will create a unique style of painting, the Woodland School. At his first exhibition in Toronto, he was shocked and amazed. Then, he will be invited to major exhibitions in Paris and elsewhere. We speak of him as the Picasso of the North,” says the expert.

Mr. Sioui-Durand is not surprised by Friday’s announcement. “It’s in tune with the times, the question of identity, the fact of trying to make progress on the identity of others. There is an identity crisis behind that, but there is also a lot of money, ”he underlines.