Everyone is abuzz about the latest art world scandal, and here's what is known about the life of the Warhol painting at the center of the controversy.
1981: Andy Warhol creates a number of his "Dollar Sign" pieces, using the same theme with different colors and sizes. Medium: polymer paint and silkscreen ink on canvas.
February 14th, 1998: One of the two "Dollar Sign" pieces measuring at 16 by 20 inches is reported stolen from the Martin Lawrence Gallery in SoHo.
Mid-1990s: Brooklynite Jason Beltrez purchases a "Dollar Sign" for $180 at an open-air market in New Jersey, claiming he didn't know it was a Warhol.
February 2006: One "Dollar Sign" is sold for $4.5 million in London.
September 2007: Beltrez brings his Warhol to Christie's after a friend tells him it might be by "the Campbell's Soup guy."
The NY Times is painting Beltrez darker than most papers, mentioning his hard-knock life, unemployed status, and recent rehab stint. Apparently Christie's was suspicious when he brought the Warhol in, saying there was "something about this particular art lover."
Christie's accepted the painting and contacted the Art Loss Register immediately. The databank of lost and stolen art confirmed it was legit, and now Martin Lawrence Gallery is suing Beltrez, who in turn has gotten himself a lawyer. Beltrez says he's an honest man and is employing the law of the street: "finders keepers, losers weepers." For that, we sort of hope he wins. The law seems to be against him though (experts say the law protects the gallery), and there are some unfortunate coincidences that aren't going to make it easy for him to win. For one, Beltrez was raised near the gallery the Warhol was stolen from, and records show he was still at that address at the time.
No criminal charges have been filed yet but the NYPD is still investigating. Mr. Beltrez speaks out saying, “This country is only fair for people lined in green. I know I’m the good guy.” He also told The NY Post, "This is a civil case, not a criminal case. They're trying to smear me. It's a classic case of a conglomerate trying to screw the little guy." For now Christie's, who say they are a disinterested third party at this point, is holding the painting as the question of ownership goes to the courts.
Our favorite "finders keepers, losers weepers" story about stolen artwork involves the Manhattan woman who found a valuable piece of artwork on the street.
By -Jen Carlson
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