Nicky Katz and Ray Howse are taking legal action after the artist’s company Pest Control refused to confirm the authenticity of the work “Monkey Queen”. After three years of waiting, the art collectors are suing the company for breach of contract.
The company says it offers an official validation of Banksy’s work. Katz and Howse have now been waiting for an answer for three years and are disappointed with Bansky who they say is hampering the validation process.
– If I had a painting by Leonardo da Vinci, there is no “Leonardo control” to validate it. I would simply take it to an expert to see if it was real, Katz told the newspaper.
Another accusation
John Brandler, specialist graffiti dealer, also accuses Banksy of manipulating the market – saying the artist only certifies works he wants certain individuals to have.
Pest Control responds that the verification process is robust and sometimes lengthy and claims to have issued thousands of certificates of authenticity.
