Several Orlando Museum of Art personnel awaits jury trial after the “Heroes & Monsters: Jean-Michel Basquiat” exhibit fraud conspiracy.

Orlando Museum of Art Lawsuit: The “Heroes & Monsters: Jean-Michel Basquiat” Chronicle. (Photo: ArcaMax)

Orlando Museum of Art Controversy

In the report from The Charlotte Observer, Aaron De Groft, Pierce O’Donnell, and other owners of the artworks displayed in its “Heroes & Monsters: Jean-Michel Basquiat” exhibit awaits jury trial after the Orlando Museum of Art filed a lawsuit against them to seek unspecified damages. The lawsuit was filed by the Orlando Museum of Art in Orange County circuit court on Monday, August 14.

De Groft, the director of the Orlando Museum of Art and organizer of the exhibit was earlier discharged from his post adding that the lawsuit was intended to damage his job when all he did was to showcase the beauty of arts in their community. He thereby said that the lawsuit was a case without merit.

Meanwhile, O’Donnell expressed his denial of the lawsuit sought by the Orlando Museum of Art as he mentioned the museum’s tactic of diverting its shortcomings by smearing his reputation and putting the blame on him.

There were more defendants mentioned in the lawsuit who shared an ownership stake in the artworks. Last June, paintings by Basquiat, a famous contemporary artist during the 1980s, amounting to millions of dollars were taken into custody by the FBI after the artworks fraud investigation.

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Orlando Museum of Art Vindication

O’Donnel and De Groft refuted all of the Orlando Museum of Art allegations. O’Donnel firmly said that there would be a “counterpunch” coming in a short period of time. The Orlando Museum of Art issued a fraud, breach of contract, and conspiracy lawsuit against them.

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