The Thunder Bay Art Gallery in Ontario recently revealed the extensive art fraud involving the works of Norval Morrisseau, a celebrated Indigenous artist. Local artist Tim Tait discovered a painting of his under Morrisseau's name at a law firm over two decades ago, leading to law enforcement's initial dismissal of the claims. It was eventually unveiled that two fraud rings produced thousands of counterfeit Morrisseau paintings, sold at prestigious galleries and to high-profile collectors, generating millions in profit. The perpetrators have since pleaded guilty, marking a significant moment in Canada's art history.
All they did was laugh at me and ridicule me on the phone. And I said, When it comes out, I'll be singing like a bird.'
By the time it all came out decades later, two criminal rings in Thunder Bay had knocked off thousands of bogus Norval Morrisseaus that collectively fetched millions of dollars across Canada.
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