Top Art Crime (and Scandal) Podcasts to Listen To

The rise of art crime and scandal podcasts demonstrates how increasingly podcasts have made the intersection of crime and culture accessible to a broader, curious, audience. While some of the podcasts presented below are strictly about art crimes, forgeries, and thefts connected to art galleries, museums, or dealers, others focus more on unsolved or controversial cases and even attempt to reframe the writing of art history by bringing into the table gender and social issues. This variety reflects the appealing stories that emerge from the art world’s dark side and the complexities of its many players. Furthermore, it sheds light on what The Art Newspaper author Ben Lewis regards as “the less commercially compromised and more independent storytelling involved in podcast making.”

Art Fraud

Art Fraud is an entertaining podcast that covers the downfall of the New York-based Knoedler Gallery due to an art forgery scheme of modern and contemporary artworks with millionaire repercussions. Written by Vanity Fair reporter Michael Shnayerson, based on his article on the subject, and narrated by the deep voice of actor Alec Baldwin, the podcast uncovers the events that led to the fall of the once renowned gallery and opens up questions as to whether its director, Ann Freedman, was implicated on the scheme. It also includes interviews and clips from art experts, and investigators portraying the involvement of Chinese artist and forger Pei-Shen Qian; Jaime Andrade, a former Knoedler employee; and Glafira Rosales, a Long Island art dealer and the face of the operation.

Furthermore, it uncovers the principles that guide the art market, a nebulous sector that focuses greatly on trust and reputation. Precisely these two factors contributed to the success of the $80 million scheme that lasted for seventeen years. As reported by this ArtNet News article, the participation of Baldwin in the podcast may be motivated by his own dispute with art dealer Mary Boone for passing off, what Baldwin described as a duplicate painting by artist Ross Bleckner as the original. Even if Boone denied the claims the dispute was settled favoring the actor.

This podcast is presented by Cavalry Audio and iHeart Podcasts.

Art Bust

Art Bust: Scandalous Stories of the art world is an investigative podcast series in which U.K. author, Ben Lewis, explores art scandals across timeframes.  Some episodes focus on some of the most media-covered frauds like the one of the once art dealer prodigy, Inigo Philbrick, whose story has been repeatedly recounted most recently by his friend Orlando Whitfield in the book All that glitters.  Interestingly, other episodes, uncover less publicized yet compelling forgery cases like the one of the eccentric forger of the work of African American artist Clementine Hunter.  Without a doubt, the two-episode series on Clementine Hunter would be where I would start as it paints the picture of a revolutionary and talented artist of color, who only until recently gained recognition in the mainstream. After introducing the artist’s work, the unconventional forgery scheme, which went on for years, is outlined. Furthermore, the podcast is entertaining and educational as it includes an in-depth historical, social and artistic introduction to each topic, alternating audio clips, interviews and seamless editing of music background. Also, Lewis’s first-hand knowledge of the art world permeates each brief but well-researched and structured episode.

The podcast is executive-produced by Katrina Onstad, Kathleen Goldhar, USG Audio and Antica Productions.

Last Seen

The first season of Last Seen uncovers the world-famous theft from the Gardner Museum in Boston, still considered the biggest art heist in recent history involving thirteen irreplaceable artworks such as Rembrandt’s only seascape. To this date, with a $10 million reward on offer, not one single piece has been recovered, thus the podcast’s main premise is to answer why there are still no strong clues on this robbery. Remarkably, this podcast, sprawling ten episodes, perhaps was the first of its kind to have great exposure with its appealing narrative and investigative look into the heist alternating between recreation of the forming of the collection by the unconventional Isabella Garner, real-time narration on the museum’s grounds, primary sources and interviews. Interestingly, the podcast also has an intimate feel as it was produced by locally knowledgeable entities like WBUR Boston, a public radio station located in Boston, Massachusetts, owned by Boston University, and The Boston Globe and includes the commentary of reporters and investigators that have been attached to this heist since decades ago. I truly recommend it.

Death of an Artist

This podcast, by Pushkin Industries and Somethin’ Else, deserves its own introduction as, each season, focuses its attention on women artists who once were overlooked by the mainstream.

Death of an Artist. Season 1. The Story of Ana Mendieta and Carl Andre

In the first season of the podcast, Art Curator Helen Molesworth explored the circumstances surrounding the death of Cuban artist Ana Mendieta. At the age of 36, she fell from a window of her 34th-floor New York apartment, raising questions about the possible involvement of her then-husband, the recently deceased artist Carl Andre. However, while featuring the structure of a true crime podcast, Molesworth goes deeper and frames both the rise of Carl Andre in the New York art scene and the revolutionary practice of Mendieta framing her contributions to contemporary art practices which only until recently have been recognized. While uncovering the turbulent relationship of the couple and the murder trial, where Andre was acquitted, it introduces the audience to the aftermath of Mendieta’s death delving into Andre’s successful career regardless of the scandal and how Ana became a censored topic among the art circuit.

Molesworth, an art world insider, also speaks to the reassessment and increasing recognition Mendieta has received in the last few years. For this reason, the podcast portrays both a historiographical approach to Mendieta’s legacy and captures the contradictions that form part of the art world making it original and analytical in its approach to the subject. It must be said that, as revealed in this New York Times article, not everyone was happy with the podcast. For instance, Mendieta’s niece, who manages the artist’s state, has repeatedly stood against the repetitive reenactment of her aunt’s death. However, as no law forbids this type of portrayal, Mendieta’s story will continue to be revisited. As evidence of this, a limited series about Mendieta’s life, starring and produced by America Ferrera, is in the works.

Death of an Artist. Season 2. Krasner and Pollock

Season 2, hosted by Art Historian Katy Hessel, author of the book, The Story on Art Without Men, broadcaster, Instagram sensation, and art curator, explores the story of artist Lee Krasner. While this season does not cover an art crime, it does explore how Krasner’s work was overshadowed by that of the husband, Jackson Pollock, and was only revalued close to her death in 1984. Focusing on Krasner’s crucial role in propelling Pollock’s legacy after the artist’s untimely death in a car crash, Hessel paints a rather grueling depiction of Pollock contextualizing his contributions but also his addiction and the events, including an affair, that led to his death. In the current relooking of the art history canon, it is only necessary to recognize the legacy of visionary women artists and in this case, also talented art agents, like Lee Krasner independently of the revered and even mythical figure of her husband. Including Hessel’s expertise in the subject and compelling narrative abilities, the podcast also raises questions about the underlying factors contributing to the rise to stardom of the world’s most revered artists and the often-anonymous individuals behind their success.

The Professor: The Hunt for the Mafia’s Missing Masterpiece

In this podcast, journalist Simon Willis from Vanity Fair, The Economist, and Financial Times follows a story about William Veres, who was accused of running a pan-European art-smuggling ring with ties to the Sicilian mafia. The story revolves around Veres’ attempt to recover a missing Caravaggio altarpiece titled "The Nativity with St. Francis and St. Lawrence," which was stolen from a Palermo church in 1969. The show uncovers Veres’ journey and enlists the help of Dutch art detective Arthur Brand next to featuring testimonies of art crime investigators, and some shady characters involved in illegal antique trading. As this unsolved case is tinted by the alleged involvement of the Sicilian mafia it also included voices from reputed experts in this field. At times, it also adds suspense to the narrative by exposing the dangerous situations that Veres and Brand encounter as part of their unconventional investigation. To be honest, this is my least favorite podcast but it does shine light into the shady areas of antiquity trading and the complexity of trying to recover lost artworks. 

The podcast is presented by Brazen.