Ep 152.2: Art World's Greatest Conman Escaped the Mafia & FBI Using This Tactic?! | Ken Perenyi
Description
We're back with Part 2 with Ken Perenyi, arguably one of the art world's greatest and most successful conman?!
In Part 1 of Ken's STIMY interview (do check it out if you haven't already done so), we covered his journey including how he first launched his art forgery 'career' (hint: it involves a broken bathroom that crashed through the ceiling to the restaurant below!).
In Part 2, Ken discusses his motivations, the thrill of creating and selling fake art, and how he managed to avoid capture by both the mafia and the FBI.
Highlights include a $750,000 art piece he painted, adopting his daughter due to a CNN documentary by Christiane Amanpour, and the psychological tactics he employed to fool art experts.
Despite the rather questionable nature of his work, Ken views his career with a mix of pride and reflection, acknowledging missed opportunities and his philosophical outlook on life.
He also recounts his controversial friendships with high-profile figures like Roy Cohn (the notorious lawyer/fixer who helped Donald Trump gain a footing in New York) and his thoughts on the challenges for contemporary artists breaking into the industry.
Highlights:
- 01:44 Ken's Artistic Journey and Motivations
- 05:46 The Art of Deception: Techniques and Challenges
- 10:53 Close Calls with the Mafia and FBI
- 16:04 The Investigation and Its Aftermath
- 33:32 Reflections on Life Choices and Missed Opportunities
- 38:23 Rescuing a Daughter from Sex Slavery
- 39:47 A Life Transformed by Art
- 40:04 The Rescue Mission in Ghana
- 43:52 Adopting Bridget and Her Journey
- 46:02 Reflections on Life Choices
- 01:04:28 The Art World and Its Challenges
- 01:15:22 Final Thoughts and Legacy
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