Unreserved Introducing | Forged: The true story behind the Norval Morrisseau art fraud
Oct 29, 2025
Join musician Kevin Hearn of Barenaked Ladies as he dives into the shocking world of art fraud linked to Indigenous artist Norval Morrisseau. After purchasing what he thought was an authentic painting, Kevin faces a crisis when its authenticity comes into question. The investigation leads him into a dark underbelly of the art world, unraveling a massive forgery scheme. Discover how one painting ignited a quest that goes beyond personal ownership, shedding light on a larger cultural and financial fraud.
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From Shack To Sold-Out Gallery
- Norval Morisseau rose from selling paintings at a northern Ontario general store to a sold-out 1962 Toronto gallery show that changed his life.
- The exhibit launched his career and introduced Woodland School art to national and international audiences.
Murder Probe Revealed Art Fraud
- A police investigation into a murder unexpectedly uncovered a vast art forgery network linked to the same people.
- Investigators realized the art fraud's scope and its potential links to violence and organized crime.
Why Norval Attracted Massive Forgeries
- Norval became one of the most faked artists because his distinctive, iconic style was highly collectible and widely visible.
- The scale of forgeries grew into what investigators now call possibly the world's biggest art fraud.
