Elmyr de Hory, Artist and Faker

Coming to the Hillstrom Museum of Art at Gustavus

Elmyr de Hory, Portrait of a Woman (in the style of Modigliani), 1974, oil on canvas, 21 x 15 inches collection of Mark Forgy

The show "Elmyr de Hory, Artist and Faker" features works by one of the most notorious art fakers of modern times, Elmyr de Hory, who is believed to have created hundreds of fakes of modern masters such as Henri Matisse or Amedeo Modigliani that were accepted into museums and prominent collections in the U.S. and abroad. Mark Forgy, who formed a close friendship with de Hory in the final years of his life, will lend works that the artist gave or bequeathed to him. Some of these were done in the style of other artists but signed with de Hory’s own name, while others were in the artist’s own style.

Events:

• Opening reception on February 15, 7 to 9 p.m.

• Lecture by prominent art critic and writer Jonathan Lopez, author of the 2008 bestseller The Man Who Made Vermeers: Unvarnishing the Legend of Master Forger Han van Meegeren (3:30 p.m., February 28, Wallenberg Auditorium, Nobel Hall of Science).

• A second lecture will be given by Mark Forgy, considering his relationship with de Hory and the aesthetic implications of faked works of art (3:30 p.m., March 21, Wallenberg Auditorium, Nobel Hall of Science).

All events and programs are free and open to the public. Additional information on the Hillstrom Museum of Art can be found on their Web site.

The show runs February 15 to April 18.