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The Guardian World1 min read
How a father and daughter duped NYC's art world with fake Warhols and Banksys
TL;DR
A father and daughter duo allegedly deceived New York City's art scene by selling forged artworks attributed to famous artists like Warhol and Banksy. The scheme involved a painting presented as a family heirloom, raising questions about art authenticity.
Key points
- Father and daughter duo involved in art forgery
- Fake artworks attributed to Warhol and Banksy
- Forged Andrew Wyeth painting valued at $20,000 to $30,000
- Concerns over art authenticity in NYC
- Impact on trust in the art market
Mentioned in this story
Karolina BankowskaRobert Rogal
Andrew WyethAndy WarholBanksy
A suspected forgery of an Andrew Wyeth painting is seen at RoGallery in New York, Tuesday, April 28, 2026. Jake Offenhartz/AP
Jake Offenhartz/AP
NEW YORK — A little over a year ago, the New York City art dealer Robert Rogal received a visit to his private showroom from a young woman, who seemed eager to offload a family heirloom.
Introducing herself as Karolina Bankowska, she carried a framed painting signed by Andrew Wyeth, resembling the watercolor landscapes the celebrated artist had completed early in his career. Intrigued, Rogal accepted the piece on consignment, figuring it might fetch between $20,000 to $30,000 at auction.
"The provenance was a little fuzzy," he said. "But she seemed credible. It wasn't an obvious counterfeit."
In fact, Rogal now believes the painting was a fake — one of at least 200 carefully designed imitations that federal prosecutors say Bankowska, 26, and her father Erwin Bankowski, 50, tried to pass off to unwitting buyers.
On Tuesday, the duo pleaded guilty to defrauding their victims — including some of New York City's most prominent fine art auction houses — of at least $2 million.
The counterfeits, which were forged in Poland by an unnamed co-conspirator, were often reproductions of lesser-known works by prominent and prolific artists, like Banksy and Andy Warhol, prosecutors said. Their most profitable fake, purportedly by the artist Richard Mayhew, was sold by the auction house DuMouchelles last October for $160,000.
A representative for DuMouchelles said they had cooperated with federal authorities but were not authorized to discuss the sale further. Several other auction houses targeted in the scheme, including Bonhams, Phillips, Freeman's and Antique Arena, either declined or did not respond to inquiries.
The father and daughter — Polish citizens living in New Jersey — face charges of wire fraud conspiracy and misrepresenting Native American–produced goods, a charge stemming from their duplication of the Luiseño artist, Fritz Scholder.
They face the possibility of more than three years in prison under federal guidelines, in addition to $1.9 million in restitution and possible deportation to Poland.
Q&A
Who are the father and daughter involved in the NYC art forgery case?
The father and daughter duo are Robert Rogal and Karolina Bankowska, who are accused of selling fake artworks.
What famous artists' works were forged in the NYC art scam?
The scam involved forgeries of artworks attributed to Andy Warhol and Banksy, among others.
How much was the forged Andrew Wyeth painting valued at?
The forged Andrew Wyeth painting was estimated to fetch between $20,000 to $30,000 at auction.
What are the implications of art forgery in the New York art market?
Art forgery undermines trust in the art market, potentially leading to financial losses for dealers and collectors.
