Artful Dodgers: Fraud & Foolishness in the Art Market

Not only is Artful Dodgers highly entertaining, it is a concise and reliable compendium of information essential to art collectors, appraisers and anyone seeking an appraisal. I know whereof I speak since I have been an active art market player for the past 45 years wearing many hats: collector, gallerist, published art critic, exhibition curator, auction house expert, artist, and for the past 17 years a full time independent art appraiser. I can attest that Mr. Ewell tells it like it is. I found myself nodding and chuckling with recognition as I read his accurate portrayals of the pros and cons in the business. I understand and applaud his messianic zeal to expose the practices of shady dealers and appraisers. The book answered my questions about the lingering and malodorous Dali print market. Now I know how Mr. Ewell accomplished the honorable and worthy role of clearing that air. He is a brilliant raconteur who can back up his observations and stories with living facts and figures. Artful Dodgers is one of four brilliant and highly readable art market exposes, along with Lee Caterall's The Great Dali Art Fraud; Ken Perenyi's Caveat Emptor; and Robert Wittman's Priceless. Using a nostalgic word from one of the chapters in Artful Dodgers, I give this book 5 "groks".

I had seen this book on the desk of one of my dealers (or I should say, dealster, though he has integrity) and it looked very interesting to me. I quickly bought it and began to read it upon delivery. The first half of the book was very informative and enlightening. The second half of the book was a chore to get through. I understand Mr. Ewell is an "expert" (his words, not mine) and I guess I'll take his word for it, but reading about what an expert he is and how great he is at what he does, began to drag me down. Also, the second half of the book is mostly about fraud in the print market and mainly to do with Dali. Mr Ewell again makes it crystal clear how he is the foremost expert (and expert witness, appraiser, authenticator, etc etc, ad nauseum). Not to belabor the point (wait, isn't that what Mr. Ewell did?), all in all the book is educational and interesting at times, I do also believe most of what is written concerning the art market, especially the 6 myths of art, that Mr. Ewell states. With that said, enjoy it for what it is, but be aware of the tediousness of his writing and remember.. he IS the foremost expert in all things art!

I just purchased a copy for $.50. Here's my appraisal - that's about $.38 more than it's worth. At least the cost of shipping put some people to work and advanced the wheels of commerce, soon the recycling business as well. Much of the author's writing style is a knotch above post-it notes on the fridge and written assembly instructions for an IKEA bookshelf. The book lays bare Mr. Ewell's self-aggrandisement and a low-grade case of narcissism. Certainly do read this book as a clincial study on ego and the virtues of living in the Southwest. If you are interested in his case for "Dali-cide" as the bane of 20th Century cultural commerce, then there may be some guideposts to heed. His message is that if you have a Dali print you're already in a world of hurt. If he thought to inject any humor into the text, I suggest: "Just throw this book at it and put the shards on the curb. All of It will be someone else's treasure or trash the next morning."

This seems to me like it is more about Bernard Ewell's need to set the record straight regarding his "ruined reputation" than it is about exposing the frauds in the art world. After reading this book - i do believe the art world has some major honesty issues. He would have us believe he is the only real and honest Dali expert. There is some good information. I believe It would be better if he published his trove of secret files and notes, that is, if he really wanted to create a resource to end the fraud.. Lot's of opinion. He is obviously a wealth of experience and has been an expert with extensive research. I wish he shared more and opined less about everyone elses lack of integrity. I get the feeling he believes he is one of the few last honest men on earth.

Mr. Ewell's comprehensive, honest, revelatory and wonderfully idiosyncratic book about the art market was well worth the wait. I've read it once, and bought and given away copies to (honest) dealer friends, a museum director, and a couple of my appraisal clients! Anyone who collects art should read it and learn. If I ever take a few personal days off from my own 29-year-old art appraisal practice, I'm going to read it again. All these years as an art appraiser, I know a lot, but Bernard knows a heck of a lot more, and has certainly had (sought out) much more varied experiences than I have. It reinforced all my beliefs and experience, and revealed some remarkable things to me. Wish I'd had this book 29 years ago! - Allen Dodworth, Salt Lake City

Excellent, accessible discussion of the business of art. There is information that will benefit even a casual buyer or appreciator of art. Enjoyably well-written. It is not a dense, dry academic discourse. Interesting and often humorous anecdotes about the "frauds and foolishness" art world. There is enough content to make re-reading worthwhile. I have also listened to it on my Kindle several times. Mr. Ewell has definite opinions but explains and defends them well. The reader is left free to agree or not. This book has the "Look Inside" feature enabled. The Table of Contents is a clear review of what is included.

This book is an easy read, has just enough wit and tongue in cheek touches to be endearing; busts some common myths about the art world and exposes the art world's negative sides and also can have a ironically soothing effect for the artist--reader as that suspicion that something is wrong is validated and yet it never denigrates good art, honest dealers and honor; just puts it all into perspective. Thank you, Mr. Ewell, for a timely tome with lovely twists and turns. For anyone involved in the art world, this is a must-read.

In Ireland, we have a saying - and it definitely applies to Bernard Ewell - he loves the smell of his own (take a guess!).I definitely learned from this book, and, in that context, job done. And it is written in an easy, digestible and entertaining style.But the self-promotion as the World's foremost expert on Dali authenticity, etc. is over-the-top.He heavily criticises Fields, and Michel & Lopsinger in terms of questioning their integrity and ability to adequately document Dali's work in their Catalogue Raisonnes.Hey Bernard! If you can do better, then do it! Or publish your own marked up version. But, don't criticise the guys who put so much work into their own, just to promote yourself as being the best of the best! 😁