The “Kurier” reported, citing authority spokeswoman Nina Busek. For the authorities, the initial suspicion of serious fraud has been confirmed.
The “Falter” recently revealed that Heller made the frame based on a cut-up drawing by Basquiat in Vienna. This frame, supposedly created by Basquiat in 1987, was offered for a million euros at the TEFAF art fair in New York, together with a portrait of the artist entitled “Untitled”. Heller spoke of a “childish prank”.
A buyer in New York was not found at the time. Nevertheless, the Basquiat-Heller combo soon changed hands. The Viennese artist manager Amir Shariat first bought the drawing for a customer, while the frame went back to Heller – until the customer bought the fake frame in 2018, according to “Falter” for 800,000 euros. Heller has since bought the frame back.
Heller’s lawyer Thomas Höhne denied any intention to defraud the “Kurier”: “The frame was sold as a frame with Basquiat drawings on it.” Höhne’s partner, Thomas In der Maur, now made the following statement: “André Heller is aware of the investigation that the Vienna public prosecutor’s office had to open without examining the facts. Mr. Heller is not responsible for any criminal offense. He is convinced that that the allegations against him can be clarified quickly and completely.”
Source: Nachrichten
