WHAT DO YOU THINK

The art world was slightly shook up over the past few days from a rather unknown place, Kutztown, Pennsylvania via Allentown, PA. A possible Keith Haring original has emerged on eBay with the starting bid price of "0.99 cents".. Wow!! But the story doesn't stop there(of course not there is always the MONEY)


The possible Keith Haring painting of subject titled "Hope" has been under scrutiny since held in a Douglasville Pennsylvania auction house in 2005. The seller Ed Oswald claims he discovered the painting four years ago in the attic of relatives who knew Haring from childhood and bought the piece at auction in the 1980s. He said he immediately thought it to be Haring’s work.

In April 2005, he tried selling it as such and his cousin, Kermit Oswald, told The Associated Press the painting was a knockoff.

"I don’t know the origins of the thing. I just know what it’s not,"

Kermit Oswald said. Kermit Oswald was one of the late Keith Haring best friends and the president of the Haring Foundation, which is the definitive authority on whether works are authentic.

As a result, the eBay listing does not claim the painting is an authentic Haring. Instead, buyers will bid on "an original painting on board from the 1980’s in a remarkable likeness and style of a Keith Haring, with a very interesting story & provenance."

I don't think anyone can deny the striking similarities to the famed pop artist style but the painting was unsigned and to be honest it wouldn't shock me to hear its a fake. We are in a recession people and people strapped for cash. It's crazy that one of the families closets to Keith would have 2 different stories about one painting but then again it is money money money.
We love that money. Off the heels of the record breaking YSL auction, if deemed authentic, the painting could be worth hundreds of thousands of dollars says estate/auction experts.

Check it out for yourself... read the complete story from the sellers, Delaware-based company, Estate Auctions Inc whose handling the infamous 10-day auction that started with a 99 cent starting bid.

When told the starting bid was 99 cents, Kermit Oswald gave a hearty laugh and quipped: "I hope it closes at that. That would be fair."... CLASSICK!!