#Sentence #Delivered #Norval #Morrisseau #Fraud #Case #WorthPoint
Damage to Canadian Indigenous icon’s legacy starts to heal
One of the biggest art fraud cases in Canadian history took a significant step towards resolution last month with the sentencing of the ringleader in a massive counterfeit art case involving Indigenous painter Norval Morrisseau. On September 5, David Voss received a five-year prison sentence for his part in the massive fraud case. Superior Court Justice Bonnie Warkentin cited that the damage was not only financial but also tarnished Morrisseau’s legacy.
“The purpose of the creation of these fake paintings was to gain an economic benefit, but in the course of creating and selling these fakes, the legacy of Norval Morrisseau has been irrevocably damaged,” she said in the proceeding, shared with media and other observers. “His spirituality has been undermined and tarnished, so today, we have one small opportunity to address this wrong.”
The sentence came down following Voss’ arrest in March 2023, and the subsequent guilty plea entered in Thunder Bay, ON, in June 2024.
Norval Morrisseau started gaining nationwide attention for his contemporary-style Indigenous art in the 1960s. He was commissioned to create a mural for Expo 67 in Montreal, among other prominent pieces in a portfolio that, according to Wikiart, totaled 85 works. The survivor of the residential school system passed away in December 2007, leaving behind a rich tapestry of Indigenous art, telling immense stories through his brushstrokes.
A Tarnished Legacy
After Voss was sentenced, there was a lot of reaction, with many people wondering if the sentence was too lenient considering the seriousness of the crime ring. Given the significant financial, time, and reputational impact, it seems clear that the victims would not be satisfied with a perceived light sentence.
“This individual (Voss) received a five-year sentence after torturing us for 26 years, causing tens of millions in damages, and orchestrating the largest art fraud in history, an event that embarrassed Canada on the world stage and represented the largest act of cultural appropriation in modern times,” Cory Dingle, Executive Director of The Estate of Norval Morrisseau stated in an exclusive interview with WorthPoint. “Despite the sentence, the responsibility of cleaning up this fraud will fall back on the estate for decades—long after this individual is likely released for good behavior in just two years.”
After saying this, however, Dingle quickly pointed out that the rendered decision is monumental in Canadian law. “While we weren’t fully satisfied with the five-year sentence, it’s important to acknowledge that in Canada, this is one of the longest sentences for a white-collar crime,” he said. “This case, the largest art fraud and cultural appropriation event in modern history, is a critical moment for Canada. It highlights the need for changes in our civil and criminal codes to deter future fraud and equip authorities with the necessary tools to prevent this from happening again.”
The sentencing included several victim impact statements. Testimonials came from victims via teleconference or prepared documents read aloud to the courtroom and broadcast audience. The frauded individuals revealed they lost tens of thousands of dollars and greatly suffered emotional damage. Among the victims was Kevin Hearn of Canadian rock band Barenaked Ladies, who, as Dingle described, became a close ally of the estate during the trial.
“Listening to the victim impact statements, especially from Kevin, who has become a friend, is one of the hardest parts. These are genuine lovers of Morrisseau’s art, and like us, they are victims,” Dingle said. “They spent large sums of money not just for a piece of art but to connect with Indigenous culture, spirituality, and to seek something deeper. This individual stole that journey from them, taking both their money and the soul connection they were seeking.”
Case Not Complete
A vital takeaway from the sentencing is the magnitude of the fraudulent instances. As Dingle told WorthPoint, the trial process identified 1,800 fakes, but the total could be as high as 5,000.
Unfortunately, Morrisseau’s estate was hard hit while the forgeries flowed freely in the marketplace, but that pain should ease now.
“For years, we have been sued for stating our opinion on fake paintings and have even lost multiple court cases as a result,” Dingle said. “Voss’s admission now fully justifies and validates our position over the past 26 years, discrediting the negative comments and accusations from those who painted us as the criminals.”
While the case impacts fraudulent circulation overall, the work is far from over, and as Dingle reports, that work is happening with significant technological assistance.
“The next challenge is how to remove them from the market. However, these works will serve as invaluable data for the artificial intelligence software we’ve developed to authenticate Norval Morrisseau paintings,” Dingle explained.
We are working with computer scientists globally, and this AI can accurately identify the attributes of Morrisseau’s genuine works. The data from these 1,800 fraudulent paintings will only enhance the accuracy and help us identify the remaining 700 fakes created by this individual.
With these convictions and the identified fake paintings, and with our world-class legal team now assembled, we will clean up the fake paintings and remove them from the market. We will provide support and show strength to the market, and Norval will be the most protected and studied Canadian artist on the market. We will restore his legacy.
Jon Waldman is a Winnipeg-based writer. He has written for Beckett, Go GTS, Canadian Sports Collector, and several other hobby outlets over his two decades in the hobby. His experience also includes two books on sports cards and memorabilia. Connect with Jon on Twitter at @jonwaldman.
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