Dali and Picasso aren’t the only forged artists

Artists on the cusp of worldwide recognition can find themselves victims of stolen identity

By Robert Hudson Westover

During a recent Google search for an artist friend of mine (I own some of his works) I discovered something impressive and something disturbing. The impressive something was the artist, James Purpura, is on Getty Images.

No Small Feat...

Getty Images picture
of James Purpura 
(courtesy photo)

Having an image with Getty is basically saying you exist as a viable professional in your field, or you are a person of notoriety. James, at this point in his career, clearly falls into the former category but, possibly, not for very long.

I feel this because the disturbing something seemed innocuous enough—an ad from someone on eBay reselling one of James’ paintings. The first thing I found unusual was the price. At about $900 it seemed rather low as a Purpura painting often sells for many times that price. But what was most unusual was the art itself.

Those Colors...

If you know Purpura’s works you know how his use of color is mind bending unlike this portrait of a woman which, in my estimation, was so drab, so plain, and so grounded-in-reality, that it completely violated James’ philosophy of art: have the observer question reality.

An actual portrait by artist
James Purpura. Note the use
of color. (courtesy photo)

So, I contacted James and sure enough it wasn’t his work.

He was understandably upset. On a month’s long sabbatical in Palm Springs (so art guy like!), he would have to wait until returning to Paris to deal with these alleged forgers. Truth is the person(s) selling the Fake James may be victims themselves of the international market in forged works.

Maybe Not a Forgery?

The "Purpura" portrait 
in question. (courtesy photo)

And, of course, there is a small chance that another painter named James Purpura has a strikingly similar signature—anything is possible in the world of art.

Obviously, there will be more to follow (for sure) but for now I told James that this is a good thing: His name in the art world is prominent enough that even thieves want to cash in on him.

I think I might buy a couple more (real) Purpuras.

If you would like to see James Purpura’s reality challenging art, go to: https://www.singulart.com/en/artist/james-purpura-15851

A Dream in the Desert leads to an art career in Paris

By Robert Hudson Westover

The Joshua trees were darkly silhouetted against a faint yet deep shade of blue—a color James Purpura would never forget. When he woke up from the dream, in the desert outside Palm Springs, he didn’t know it at the time, but this hue of blue would haunt him beyond just a day of contemplating this unique vision.

He became obsessed with it and bought paints to mix and find it.

A new language of blue.

A new language of art.

A work by James Purpura. One of 13 that will be exhibited 
this November in Palm Springs.

Paris, 20 years later and my husband and I are walking the storied boulevard Rivoli on our way to the Louvre. We were in no rush, having been to the awe-inspiring former “other” palace home of the Sun King, when just a few blocks away, we spotted a rather strange looking building that stood out from the very well-kept limestone and marble facades of Rivoli.

I mean really stood out as in huge blue humanoid looking statues climbing up the façade.

Curious as he is my husband wanted to go for a closer inspection. He was utterly fascinated. I wasn’t. Just another weird art gallery, I thought as we entered the foyer of 59 Rivoli, a former hotel now covered in paint of multiple colors and a strange assortment of odd-looking art. Everywhere. As we ascended the stairs of the seven-story structure, we soon discovered that there were at least 30 artists of varying talent either displaying or creating their art.

As we looked at the amazing, contemplative and wonderous works I remembered one of the lessons I learned when I worked at the NationalEndowment for the Arts in Washington, DC: Every new great artist must distinguish themselves from the past and other artists. To break new ground, they need to speak a new language of art.

As we turned a tight corner in the maze-like complex, we stumbled on James Purpura’s studio and looked into colors in such placement as I have never seen before, an interpretation of reality both surreal and accurate and that blue. That Purpura blue.

Lucky for us James had just come back from an errand and we struck up a conversation. Somewhere in between James’ normal pitch to sell his art to us, and me being pulled into his alternate realties on canvas, I thought, “I not only want to buy one of his works, I want to help promote him.”

James Purpura's surreal take on the
Eiffel Tower in this painting is one of his most
well know works.

As a fulltime PR specialist, I was in no position to commit fulltime, but I went to work talking James up to anyone and everyone in the art world I happened upon. Then, when James was given the distinct honor of having his work displayed by the city of Paris in the 5th district across the street from the famed Pantheon I wrote a blog which has been viewed over 5000 times—for a yet-to-be, world-famous artist this is a big number. 

I know enough about art to know that James is the real thing. All I can say to those thinking of buying his work is to do it now. It won’t be long before the whole world knows about the dream in the desert.

An American Painting Music in Paris’s City Hall

James Purpura is emerging as one of the most profound and uniquely talented artists of a generation

Paris - For artists to distinguish themselves is never easy. To distinguish themselves in Paris is an altogether bigger deal. James Purpura, a native of Ohio, has done exactly that. Starting April 1 and ending on April 13 Purpura’s wide range of paintings, including landscapes, portraits and the fanciful, will be exhibited in one of the City of Lights most magnificent buildings the City Hall of Paris' 5^th Arrondissement.

A cityscape by Jame Purpura. (Used by permission.)

Purpura, who sees colors in music, an almost sixth sense called synesthesia, has also accomplished another rare feat among artists in that he has been able to translate this concomitant sense for the world to see. According to Purpura he sees colors in “Beats, instruments, layering, vocals, and lyrics can evoke certain colors and brush strokes, and pieces of music in an infinite number of ever-changing visuals.” His musical inspirations for painting includes classical, pop, transcendental, and remixes.

The artist's work is innovative and spontaneous, and never scripted. He likes to play with colors and lets them answer each other on the canvas. Often, characters such as animals and people begin to appear magically in the story and he will give them finishing touches to complete these characters.

A landscape by James Purpura. (Used by permission.)

“My approach gets people involved in the canvas as they lose themselves in color and the story on the canvas. It allows them to escape and ask ‘Why is the moon black? Why is the sun green? Why are there two suns? Why is there one sun but the reflection of seven?’ This is how I see. This is how I interpret the world.” said Purpura.

To learn more about James Purpura and his new exhibit in Paris visit: http://www.jamesmpurpura.com/

TAGS: Art, Paris, James Purpura, synesthesia

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