Death of an Artist Introducing | Forged: The true story behind the Norval Morrisseau art fraud
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Dec 15, 2025 
Kevin Hearn, a musician from Barenaked Ladies, shares his shocking experience after purchasing a questionable Norval Morrisseau painting. Gerald McMaster, a Plains Cree curator, offers insights into Morrisseau's art and the implications of widespread forgery. The discussion explores the cultural significance of Morrisseau's work and the emotional turmoil surrounding fakes. Hearn recounts his determination to uncover the truth behind his painting, leading to a deeper investigation into a massive art fraud scandal.
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Norval's Rise And The Forgery Problem
- Norval Morrisseau transformed Indigenous art into a national movement and influenced many artists.
- His fame later made his work a huge target for widespread forgery and exploitation.
Police Investigation Reveals Art Underworld
- Inspector Jason Ryback stumbled into the art fraud while investigating an unrelated murder, having initially known little about Norval.
- His probe uncovered unexpected links between a cold case and a sprawling forgery network.
Scale Of The Alleged Fraud
- The scale of suspected Morrisseau forgeries is enormous and among the largest art frauds globally.
- The suspected value reaches into the hundreds of millions, dwarfing typical art fraud cases.
