Auction Houses Won’t Sell a Keith Haring Drawing That Faced a Lawsuit
A Connecticut court case over a Keith Haring drawing ended with the selling gallery prevailing after two major auction houses declined to handle the work due to insufficient provenance documentation. Nevada businessman Vernon Hartung bought the drawing, depicting flying saucers, from Martin Lawrence Galleries for $165,000 in 2018, but Christie’s and Sotheby’s later said its documented history did not meet their requirements for selling an authentic Haring. Hartung sued after the gallery’s attempted resale efforts yielded potential offers of $20,000–$30,000, alleging breach of contract and claims under the Connecticut Unfair Trade Practices Act. In a written decision in May, Judge Robert L. Genuario found the drawing authentic “by a preponderance of the evidence,” citing a 2002 letter from Richard Hambleton, but ruled against Hartung, who was also held responsible for the defendant’s attorney’s fees.
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This story was covered in Museum Backlash and Market Shakeups Worldwide