Former Orlando Museum Director Aaron De Groft Passes Away
Former Orlando Museum of Art (OMA) director and CEO, Aaron De Groft, who was embroiled in a Basquiat forgery scandal, has passed away at the age of fifty-nine after a brief illness, as reported in an online obituary. De Groft, who had been working to clear his name following his firing and subsequent legal battles with the museum, leaves behind a complicated legacy.
The Basquiat Forgery Scandal
De Groft’s troubles began in 2022 when federal authorities took notice of a New York Times article that raised questions about the authenticity of a collection of Jean-Michel Basquiat works displayed at OMA’s exhibition titled “Heroes & Monsters: Jean-Michel Basquiat.” The FBI’s Art Crimes Team swooped in and revealed that all twenty-five works on display were fake, with one even painted on the back of a FedEx box using a typeface that did not exist until years after Basquiat’s death in 1988.
An auctioneer based in Los Angeles confessed to orchestrating the forgery, hiring an artist to quickly create the works, some of which took only five minutes to complete. De Groft found himself at the center of the controversy and was subsequently let go by the museum.
Legal Battles and Financial Struggles
OMA later filed a lawsuit against De Groft in August 2023, accusing him of tarnishing the museum’s reputation and seeking to profit from the fraudulent exhibition. De Groft fought back with a countersuit, alleging wrongful termination and defamation. As the legal battles waged on, the museum faced financial hardships, depleting its reserves to cover legal fees and losing donors in the process.
According to reports, De Groft was still entangled in three ongoing lawsuits related to the scandal at the time of his passing. Despite the controversies surrounding him, De Groft’s obituary focused on his positive contributions to the art world, highlighting his efforts to expand museum outreach, promote inclusivity, and advocate for employee benefits and wages.
As we reflect on Aaron De Groft’s life and legacy, it serves as a reminder of the complexities that can exist within the art world, where passion for creativity can sometimes be clouded by greed and deception. The story of De Groft is a cautionary tale for those in positions of power, urging them to uphold the integrity of art and institutions above personal gain.
