Jury awards more than $100M in Robert Indiana art copyright case
The Portland Press Herald • • entertainment
Key Points:
- A jury awarded $102.2 million in a lawsuit involving fraudulent artwork attributed to Robert Indiana, resolving long-standing disputes over the authenticity of works created late in the artist’s life.
- The Morgan Art Foundation, which owns rights to Indiana’s work, sued former associate Michael McKenzie for creating fraudulent pieces and violating copyright and trademark laws; McKenzie admitted to making some disputed works.
- The verdict is seen as a major step in clarifying the legitimacy of Indiana’s art, potentially increasing its market value and allowing collectors and the public to appreciate his legacy without suspicion.
- Some recovered funds may support Star of Hope, a Maine-based nonprofit established by Indiana to benefit local arts, though McKenzie’s ability to pay the full amount or appeal remains uncertain.
- Indiana’s former home on Vinalhaven, intended to become a public arts space, faces significant restoration challenges, with Star of Hope pausing work to reassess finances and strategic planning.
