The Devil Wears Rothko: Inside the Art Scandal That Rocked the World

by Barry Avrich

The Devil Wears Rothko charts the explosive demise of Knoedler Gallery, New York’s oldest and most prestigious art galleries with detailed and salacious insight into one of the world’s largest art frauds.

From the moment an eccentric woman walked into the Knoedler Gallery with a Mark Rothko painting, everyone was fooled. For the next ten years, she—along with a group out of Hollywood central casting—ran a $80 million forgery ring through Knoedler Gallery, selling or consigning forty expertly crafted counterfeits they claimed to be the works of Robert Motherwell, Jackson Pollock, and Mark Rothko, and others.

The acclaimed documentary, Made You Look (2020), attests to the explosive investigative work and storytelling of Avrich. The Devil Wears Rothko utilizes these talents all the more effectively, featuring new information, evidence, and inside stories on how an eccentric art dealer, master forger, and two cunning con artists managed to fool the world of art over a period of ten years. Among these individuals were billionaire art collectors, journalists, and esteemed art appraisers. By the time the house of cards finally fell, the Hammer family owned Knoedler Gallery and a dozen collectors had been conned into buying over $80 million in fake art.

As the world continues to be intrigued by this case, The Devil Wears Rothko exposes such an unimaginable cast of characters and villains that even Hollywood would struggle to invent.

Genres: Art, Nonfiction, True Crime, Audiobook, Crime, History

240 pages, Hardcover

Published June 24, 2025

About the author

Barry Avrich is a veteran marketing executive and acclaimed film and television director/producer. As a marketing professional, Barry has led thousands of cultural marketing campaigns for high-profile clients and films. He is also the author of three marketing books and winner of the 2007 Ernst & Young Entrepreneur of the Year Award. In 2008, Barry built the Daniels Hollywood Theatre, the world’s first movie theatre in a hospital, at Sick Kids. Barry is also a director of Hot Docs and the Prince’s Charities Trust and has previously served as a director for TIFF and the Canadian Opera Company. He lives in Toronto.

“Moguls, Monsters and Madmen is a fascinating behind-the-scenes look at what makes show business tick. Barry Avrich is the consummate insider and isn't afraid to name names. From the highest of highs to the lowest moments in his career, his stories brim with humour, insight and the kind of info only someone who has been there, done that would know.”
– Richard Crouse, Movie Critic, Author

“Barry has carved out a fascinating career walking a tightrope while simultaneously chronicling moguls and working for them. Like pulling a thorn out of a lion’s paw, this book will be dangerously fascinating for those that love the machinations of Hollywood.”
— James Earl Jones

“Nobody understands the brilliant, twisted, dark mind of an entertainment mogul better than Barry Avrich. He’s worked for them, he’s suffered under them, and he’s dissected their personalities. If you want to know what it takes to claw your way to the top of entertainment industry, read this book. It’s thrilling — and terrifying.”
— Michael Riedel, New York Post

“An extraordinary look at a few influential power players that redefined Hollywood and the entertainment industry. Barry goes inside and gives you a front row seat.”
— Ron Meyer, Vice Chairman, NBC Universal

Reviews

[Strega Di Gatti · Rating 4 out of 5]

Books that give you a peek into a seemingly impenetrable world are so fascinating. What did I know about the world of fine art brokering before this book? Very little. What do I know now? A tiny bit more!

The Devil Wears Rothko by Barry Avrich expands on the details of the Knoedler Gallery scandal first introduced to general audiences in Avrich's documentary Made You Look (2020).

We discover how two opportunistic scammers used an artist-turned-forger to work their way into elite New York society and make millions off the sale of fake Rothkos, Pollocks, Motherwells, etc. We are invited to wonder which legitimate brokers and gallery owners were "in" on the scam. Are the trusted figures in the long-time profession of art dealing and authentication just willingly naive or outright villainous? 

Sorry if this sounds heartless, but as the victims of the scam are portrayed as rich, greedy, and terribly careless, it's hard to feel too bad for them. At least these buyers got a few good years of waving their friends and enemies into the drawing room to stare up at a Rothko!

As Avrich warns us in a personal aside, if you want to buy art, first make sure you love the piece for its own qualities, because its emotional value is likely to end up mattering more than its book value. It's a tough business, even if you don't have a fake over your fireplace.

I was delighted and surprised by how easy it is to forge art! Amazed by how frequently provenance is overlooked in the art world. Startled by the estimate of how many fakes are supposedly on museum walls right now...Incredible.

A note for e-book readers, this edition had more than a few sloppy copy mistakes, missed words, misspellings, and the occasional sentence where the subject is not clear. Kind of a chuckle considering one of the Pollocks was discovered to be a fake because the "artist" had misspelled his own name. 

[Jillian B · Rating 4 out of 5]

This book tells the story of a massive art forgery ring, and let me tell you, it was actually a PERFECT listen as an audiobook. I am picky about the books I listen to on audio because they need to be engaging enough to keep me entertained but straightforward enough that if I get distracted I don’t miss major plot points, and this hit right in that sweet spot. Another sweet spot this book struck is that it goes deep enough into the art world that it will be entertaining for people who know a lot about art, while still explaining things enough that people who know nothing about art won’t be confused. This was a fun, quick listen and I highly recommend it!

[Literary Redhead · Rating 5 out of 5]

A gripping true story of the shocking art forgery and fraud at one of the most prestigious art galleries in New York City. Art lovers and fans of real life thrillers will devour this. Highly recommended!

[Robert Blumenthal · Rating 5 out of 5]

This book is a followup to a documentary on Netflix called Made You Look. It involves what was the largest art fraud at probably the most respected gallery in the world, the Knoedler Gallery in New York. Ann Friedman, who was running the gallery at the time, was desperate to turn around the dwindling financial health at the gallery when she was approached by Glafira Rosales who was working with a master art forger from China. She unloaded many paintings by such modern luminaries as Mark Rothko, Jackson Pollock, Robert Motherwell, and others. Freedman then proceeded to sell them to rich people around the world, assurng them that they were real. It is uncertain if Freedman knew they were fake or not, and she did get some assurances from some "experts" in the field that they were authentic. They were eventually found out and it became the scandal of the century in the art world.

The story is well-told, with some wit. I'm fascinated with art and all of its contradictions--e.g., I love the Frick Museum in New York and I am well aware of what a total asshole Henry Clay Frick was. And more recently one of the largest donors to the Metropolitan Museum in New York was David Koch, another totally repugnant individual. On the other hand, what brings more beauty and emotional joy to us that the fine arts. This dichotomy is presented well in this story, both the loveliness and richness of the art and the greed and arrogance of many private collectors. The only problem I had with the book was that there were an unacceptable number of grammatical errors like I have never seen in a published book.

[Jill · Rating 4 out of 5]

stars
I was thrilled to be given the opportunity to read this book. I remembered a bit of this story from an American Greed episode, yet this book filled in many of the holes left out by the show. I was utterly fascinated by the greed and the world of high dollar art. Furthermore, I was baffled by the fact someone paid $17 million dollars for a Jackson Pollock painting that had the artist's name spelled incorrectly.
The author guides the reader step by step into a world where a crime of this magnitude happened and will likely happen again. A baffling case of greed, ineptitude or perhaps both? What an intriguing story that includes money, celebrities, scams and more.

I recommend this book as it will most definitely appeal to many readers.



I received a complimentary copy of this book from Netgalley and the Publisher.

[Susan · Rating 2 out of 5]

The author's style of writing was odd; snide little asides here and there, bullet points all over the place. He also repeated certain stories multiple times. Yes, I know Mary Boone was charged with tax evasion, you told us at least 4 times! And that Michael Hammer paid $473,000 for a Mercedes and sold it for $452,000 (those numbers are guesses on my part, I didn't care enough to retain the exact amounts) because that we were told at least twice. I finished it simply because I had nothing else to read but I honestly didn't care about anyone in the book and their millions they can drop on paintings.

[Elle · Rating 1 out of 5]

“The purpose of this exercise was not to bore you…”

But… sadly, it did. The narrator/author repeatedly references the documentary that preceded this book and the process of making it. Maybe the context of the film is needed to truly appreciate this text.

(DNF - ch.3/ 16.8%)

[Christina Dudley · Rating 4 out of 5]

Fascinating true story of art fraud on a massive scale which brought down a historic American gallery which once supplied the robber barons. We watched the documentary MADE YOU LOOK which was made before the book, and that certainly added to the experience. If you're a Fake or Fortune fan, you'll enjoy this read. And I would totally love to buy a few fakes from the Chinese forgeries factory the author visits. We had a good discussion of which forgeries we would buy, with some of the nominees being Monet's Houses of Parliament, Botticelli's Primavera, and a few Dutch masters.

[Jess Hunter · Rating 4 out of 5]

Being a part of the art world, I couldn’t resist this read, which follows one of the largest art frauds and related to one of the nation’s most preeminent galleries.

I enjoyed the documentary (Made you Look) by Barry Avrich, and the book was equally fascinating. Written for those not acquainted with the art world and the art market, it makes for a fascinating true crime story.

The story takes you step-by-step and adds in context about forgeries on the market as a whole. I am fascinated by this story partly because I can’t tell whether the cause was greed, negligence, or Hubert’s (or a combination of these).

Overall, a great and quick read. The narrator being the author himself also really brought the story to life.

Thanks to #RBMedia and #Netgalley for an ALC.

[Beau · Rating 3 out of 5]

*Thanks to RB Media for an arc of this book. I received a complimentary copy of the Devil Wears Rothko, and all opinions expressed in this review are entirely my own.*

As someone obsessed with true crime and especially art crimes, I was so excited to start Avrich’s dive into the demise of the Knoedler Gallery.
Despite already knowing a bit about the case, there were several gaps I knew I had about the case and wanted to clarify for myself, and countless I didn’t even knew I was wondering about, and the author covered all of them so incredibly well.

The whole case is so fascinating, and Avrich wrote this in a way that is so easy to follow and get sucked into, and did a great job in making you feel like you understand the whole fraud like you were there watching from the sidelines.
You get sucked not just into the Knoedler case, but also into the world of art and forgeries and I had so much fun reading this that I’m gutted I ran out of pages.

[Georgie (georgiesbookclub) · Rating 2 out of 5]

Whilst the book started out strong, I feel like it lost its way and it was merely an accompaniment to the film rather than a standalone book. The style felt like it was regurgitating facts with little to no background detail. I would have preferred a deeper look into the main cast's backgrounds to explain their roles. Additionally, there were a lot of names thrown about that were hard to follow - especially if you have little to no understanding of the art world. Some photos of the art would have been nice too!
I will, however, watch the documentary.

Thank you to NetGalley and Post Hill Press for an ARC - all opinions are my own.

[Sarah Jensen · Rating 5 out of 5]

Book Review: The Devil Wears Rothko: Inside the Art Scandal That Rocked the World by Barry Avrich

Barry Avrich’s The Devil Wears Rothko is a meticulously researched and compulsively readable exposé of one of the most notorious art scandals in recent memory. Blending investigative journalism with art historical analysis, Avrich peels back the layers of deception, ego, and greed that fueled a high-stakes forgery ring, while offering a sobering critique of the art world’s susceptibility to fraud. The book is as much a true-crime thriller as it is a cultural indictment, revealing how even the most revered institutions can be duped by sophisticated cons.

Content and Themes
Avrich’s narrative centers on the scandal involving forged works attributed to Mark Rothko and other modern masters, unraveling a web of deceit that ensnared collectors, auction houses, and museums. Key themes include:

The Mechanics of Art Fraud: A detailed breakdown of how forgers replicate not just the visual style of masterpieces but also provenance, authentication, and market manipulation.

Institutional Complicity: The role of galleries, experts, and auction houses in enabling fraud—whether through negligence, willful ignorance, or financial incentive.

The Cult of the Artist: How Rothko’s mythos (and the abstract expressionist movement writ large) made his work particularly vulnerable to forgery.

Ethical Failures in the Art Market: The tension between art as cultural heritage and art as speculative commodity.

Avrich avoids sensationalism, instead letting the facts—and the staggering sums of money involved—speak for themselves.

Strengths

Riveting Storytelling: The book unfolds like a heist narrative, with a cast of eccentric characters, high-stakes deals, and jaw-dropping revelations.

Balanced Analysis: Avrich neither glorifies the forgers nor simplistically vilifies the victims; he presents a nuanced portrait of systemic failure.

Art Historical Context: The book excels in explaining why Rothko’s work was a prime target, delving into the technical and philosophical challenges of authenticating abstract art.

Accessible Scholarship: While deeply researched, the prose remains engaging for both art-world insiders and general readers.

Areas for Improvement

Overemphasis on High-Profile Players: The narrative occasionally privileges the perspectives of wealthy collectors and institutions over smaller-scale victims of fraud.

Limited Exploration of Digital Forensics: Given the rise of AI and advanced imaging in authentication, the book could have more thoroughly addressed how technology is reshaping fraud detection.

Structural Repetition: Some key points about market vulnerabilities are reiterated multiple times, slightly diluting their impact.

Score Breakdown (Out of 5)
Research and Reporting: 4.9/5 (Impeccable sourcing, with minor gaps in technological context)
Narrative Engagement: 4.8/5 (A page-turner, though occasionally repetitive)
Thematic Depth: 4.7/5 (Strong critique of the art market, but could broaden its lens)
Originality: 4.6/5 (A fresh take on art fraud, though covering familiar terrain)
Prose and Clarity: 4.5/5 (Crisp and vivid, with occasional jargon)
Overall Rating: 4.7/5

The Devil Wears Rothko is a masterful dissection of art-world malfeasance, offering equal parts education and entertainment. Avrich’s sharp eye for detail and his ability to distill complex cons into gripping prose make this book essential reading for art lovers, true-crime aficionados, and anyone skeptical of the unchecked commodification of culture. While it could delve deeper into the digital future of forgery, its revelations about the past are damning enough to leave readers questioning every masterpiece they see.

Acknowledgments
Thank you to NetGalley and Barry Avrich for providing an advance copy of The Devil Wears Rothko. This review reflects my sincere appreciation for the book’s incisive storytelling and its unflinching examination of the dark underbelly of the art market.

[Bjørn · Rating 5 out of 5]

I am a fan of true crime documentaries. As a fiction writer myself, I like it when life shows fiction a finger in unbelievable stories and plot twists that I’d get skewered for as simply unrealistic. Here is one: a stranger walks into a renowned gallery carrying something wrapped in brown paper. It turns out to be a missing Mark Rothko painting worth millions. As it turns out, there are more masterpieces, all of them from a private collection of Mr. X (not kidding), who is extremely elusive and only communicates via the means of producing 40 exquisite and very, very expensive works of art. Producing being the key.

The Devil Wears Rothko has it all. A beguiling, somewhat narcissistic heroine. The amazing worldbuilding, where ‘world’ stands for ‘the ultra rich’. People who want to be coddled, reassured, and buy the right things. During the lawsuit portion of the book, the dealer’s lawyer argues that the client should have done their own due diligence. So should have the dealer, who insisted that she believed the works were real. “[T]he profits were obscene and Mirvish was sufficiently seduced to not ask too many questions. Then again, no one had ever asked too many questions.”

As for modern art, I’ve never been a fan, so this amuses me: “The art market is now at a nexus where forgeries comprise a large portion of the market. European law enforcement experts suggest "as much as half of the art in circulation is fake." Thomas Hoving, the former director of The Metropolitan Museum of Art, stated that a shocking 40 percent of the pieces at The Met are fake.” Not bad, not bad at all. But when you look at Rothko in particular (and I like Rothko) and read about his work methods in the last years of his life, is there really such a thing as real or fake Rothko? Why does an exquisite (the owner’s word) painting suddenly turn from $18 million to worthless piece of cardboard just because it was made by somebody else? Because it’s not about owning something that speaks to the soul, or something beautiful, it’s about owning a Rothko. “How do people think about a situation where a work of art is being sold for $8 million, for $17 million, and they think that their kid could paint it?”

This may be reality, but it’s not reality as most of us will ever know it, and it’s written like a legal thriller set in the world of art. In short, it’s a damn good, very entertaining book, and I shed a tear or two (LOLOL I do not) for the poor billionaires who must now live with the pain of knowing they bought and loved (and showed to their billionaire friends) paintings that were made in someone’s basement and later aged using sophisticated techniques such as tea bags. As for the… protagonist, let’s say, Ann Freedman? She owns a gallery of her own now, seemingly impervious to whispers behind her back, and supposedly sells real art in there. If ‘real art’ is a thing that exists, anyway.

I received a free copy of the book via NetGalley. This did not influence my opinions.

My ratings:
5* = this book changed my life
4* = very good
3* = good
2* = I should have DNFed
1* = actively hostile towards the reader*

[Zoe Lipman · Rating 5 out of 5]

4.5/5 rounded up.

Oh my goodness, I loved this! I have been listening to it non-stop since I woke up this morning.

I remember loving the documentary that this is a follow up to when I watched it a few years ago, so I was so excited to listen to this (I read it via audiobook).

This book included some of the same information as the documentary but not in a way that felt repetitive, he just reminded you of what we're talking about. This also goes a little more in depth on some people were interviewed (and some who did not want to be interviewed for the movie), examples of other art forgery situations, the history of art forgeries, and the history of the gallery that this situation occurred at.

And oh my. This place does not have nearly as clean and reputable of a reputation as it wants you to believe. From selling forgeries at the start to selling art that was obviously stolen by Nazis from Jews during WWII.

Also, it kind of sounded like he was saying "Noodler" instead of Knoedler and that made me giggle. (A random and unimportant detail.)

I just love art and learning about it, I love learning interesting things, and learning about crimes - so this was perfect for me! I highly recommend for anyone who likes true crime content, art content or just anyone who wants to learn more about a world they know very little about. As an art girlie myself, I really enjoyed this and NEED more like it. Highly recommend watching the documentary and then giving this a read for even more detail and tangential stories/information.

And I really liked how this book ended: a very nice sentiment that you should purchase art because you like it, not just because it holds some sort of prestige or massive monetary value. I agree. Have your own taste and form your own opinions on art.

Thank you to NetGalley for the audiobook ARC of this book in exchange for my honest review!

[Anna · Rating 4 out of 5]

Captivating
Based upon the Netflix documentary, Made You Look, which I will admit I haven’t seen, this book looks at the often mysterious art world and the demise of one of the most renowned galleries in New York, the Knoedler Gallery, following a multi million dollar art forgery revelation
This book is one that looks at the art world and the forgers in a different light, it shows the side of the gallery that the public don’t normally get to see but it also uncovers the shadiness of some of the players involved. The main person the book focuses on is Ann Freedman and her role in the scandal as the gallery director and the person who bought and sold on the fakes with some of the other characters not really being mentioned which I did find was a bit of an oddity but I did come to understand why as I read through and started to understand more about the art world. I did also find that some things were skipped over or not given the focus that I would have liked but I think that’s probably just me!
The book does also mention some of the other art world forgery scandals and how it could be possible for one to happen, especially if the paintings may have been in Nazi hands during WW2, but it doesn’t make any conclusions about the guilt of Freedman but leaves that up to the reader. There is a huge amount of detail and research that has gone into this book and I did enjoy reading it and learning more about the dark side of the art market. The writing style flowed well and it did pull me in quite quickly, even keeping me reading past bedtime and on the train the next day
I would recommend this book to those who enjoy a real life crime drama in a shady world full of secrets that will draw you in and keep you reading
Thank you to the publisher and netgalley who allowed me access to this book

[Betta · Rating 5 out of 5]

As an art historian and former art consultant I found this book deeply fascinating. Barry Avrich, director of the Netflix's documentary "Made you Look' based on the same events, uncovers the Knoedler Gallery art scandal in details without being boring or biased.
I really appreciated the neutrality stance he tried to keep through the whole narration of the events, as a reader knowing (or not knowing) the story you start making up your mind, you can decide whether one of the main player of the whole scandal, Ann Freedman, is a player or a victim, and the author lets you do that without forcing his hand one way or the other.

The scandal itself is fascinating, you don't have to be an art historian or specialist, to be enraptured by the whole thing, and it's one of the aspects Avrich highlight in his preface and I think he delivered. The narration flows easily even with the array of facts, dates and quotes mentioned. Even if there's not much suspense as it's known from the beginning how the events will develop, I almost couldn't put the book down. I can't wait to watch the documentary to have an even more complete picture about the whole story (shame it's not available on Netflix UK anymore...)

I've received the ARC of this book from NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.

[Therissa · Rating 4 out of 5]

Thank you Net Galley and Post Hill Press for the ARC, this review is of my own opinion.
The Devil Wears Rothko: Inside The Art Scandal that Rocked the World was a fascinating read. It was a story you would see at the movies. My knowledge of art is amateurish, there are artists that I truly love and I enjoy a trip to the museum, and Avrich’s book gives a glimpse of what happens behind the scenes and I will be watching the documentary on Netflix.
Avrich does a great job unraveling the lengths people will go to hold on to power, the complex lies they will weave, to the be known as the very best. The one people will go to get their art. Avrich’s book also exposed to some artists I have not heard or know by name only, and I will be looking into them.
What stuck out to me was the theatrics of it all, the doubling down in the face of proof and how quickly a reputation can be destroyed. With Pei Shen Qian as well, it is not easy to break into a crowded market as an artist and it shows what the desire can drive you to do.
Overall, very interesting look at the art world and a major scandal that will have people being more cautious about what art they purchase and being more vigilant of determining the provenance of the piece.

[peckidge · Rating 3 out of 5]

2.5 stars!

The way that this story was told throughout the book was entertaining, if not a bit lacking.

I wanted to ease up into reading more nonfiction and this book seemed like the pertect way to do so, and I was more or less right. The quick and entertaining way in which things are explained makes you think that you're out and about with a friend that's explaining the late scandal they’ve watched a 3h Youtube video on.
And I personally adored that (in case you didn’t figure it out, I’m that friend).

What I didn't really like, however, was the fact that this book seems like it got published without going through the hands of an editor. The amount of grammar mistakes coupled with repetitive sentences made me put it on pause a number of times and, I have to be honest, I barely convinced myself to pick it up again.

If it weren’t for the fact that I watched the documentary some years before, I really don’t think I would’ve finished it.

All in all I think it did the job I set it up to do perfectly: it made me want to read more nonfiction, and I guess that’s better than nothing.

[Jennifer · Rating 3 out of 5]

I received a copy of audiobook to review for NetGalley ARC. It appears this book serves best as a companion to the author’s documentary that’s available to stream. In audiobook form, it is a little difficult to follow the crime trail. As the reader, we are never 100% certain if the art dealer was aware of the fake painting scam, however the author clearly explains the benefits to the art world as a whole to accept fakes. An interesting fact I learned is that known fakes would be submitted to the authentication process in order to learn facts about how they determine a painting to be real. The story jumps around the characters and many players are often referred to by their last names only. Painting is such a visual art form that the audiobook format doesn’t fully work here. The book is just under 5 hours and set up to read like a podcast. Very interesting but it would help to know about this crime in the art world at least perfunctorily prior to listening.

[Kate · Rating 4 out of 5]

This book is a terrific blend of true crime, scandal and art history. The story of a woman who walked into one of the most famous art galleries in the world and convinced one of the most respected art dealers her forged painting was the real deal. Which lead to an $80 million dollar forgery ring that lasted years and pulled in/tricked many of the best art historians, authenticators and art connoisseurs.
The cast of characters was fantastic and the book's organization and research was detailed and clearly outlined. I listened to the audio version of this book, which was expertly narrated by the author, Ben Avrich. He also directed the documentary about this case, "Made You Look". Thank you to Netgalley and RBMedia for an Audio ARC of this book.

[Becca · Rating 4 out of 5]

The story of one of the most expensive art scandals in history.
If you’ve seen the documentary (Made You Look, 2020) on this story (both by the author) then you probably won’t get much new information from the book. The biggest difference is that the author also discusses how he prepped for the film, including insight into his interview process.
Part of me wishes that the story was more in depth, but I can see how it’s current form would appeal to more readers.
Author did a solid job of narrating his own book.

Thank you to NetGalley and RBmedia for the free ALC in exchange for my honest review.

[Jennifer Bagley · Rating 4 out of 5]

I watched this film on Netflix and loved it. This book is a great addition to the story.

I really like that the structure allowed for more insight into the trial and the con artists. The film has to set up that the art is fake as a reveal but this book starts with that fact. It allows us to look at motivations and how the con artist became so successful in so much more depth.

I also really loved the history this book provides and the coverage of the trials that ensued. This book is short and sweet and so intriguing!

Thank you to NetGalley and RBmedia for an advanced audiobook copy; all opinions expressed in this review are my own.

[Rina B · Rating 4 out of 5]

Thank you to Netgalley and the publisher for this ARC. “The Devil Wears Rothko” was made by the creator of “Made You Look”, the Netflix film about one of the biggest scandals that rocked the art world. I have not yet seen the movie, but I felt like I was able to enjoy the book as the author does a great job outlining the rise and fall of the Knoedler gallery. There were many characters in this story, which could get a bit confusing, but the author described them in a way that was punchy and memorable, I guess his background in film was helpful in keeping the story exciting. Truth is indeed stranger than fiction. I will definitely check out the film after reading this book.

[Michela · Rating 3 out of 5]

The Devil Wears Rothko is an interesting short book about the art of forgery, its market and the power of money in the world of art galleries and collections. I will definitely watch the documentary Made You Look by Barry Avrich, as I am very fascinated by this topic.
The book itself is fascinating - the audiobook narrated by the author was also good (I only wish he would have pronounced names who are not English the correct way!)
Not a must-read but a fun one for sure.

* I'd like to thank Barry Avrich, RBMedia and NetGalley for providing this ALC in exchange for my honest review.

[Chelsea Clayton · Rating 4 out of 5]

I absolutely LOVED this book!! I don't read as much non-fiction, but this book was so well written it felt like a work of fiction. I kept expecting a murder twist like it was a thriller!

I love modern art, but I had never heard of this scandal (probably because I'm 33 and would have been too "young" to remember it). It was incredibly fascinating and I honestly cannot wait to see the movie he made as well.

I highly recommend if you're also a big modern art fan!

[Richard · Rating 4 out of 5]

Great story about the scandal that rocked the contemporary art world and led to the end of the 100+ year old Knoedler Gallery in NYC. A similar story albeit with less detail is told in "Made You Look" available on Prime. The downside is that you may never look at the art on the museum or gallery walls the same again.

[Steve · Rating 4 out of 5]

Avich's documentary, Made You Look -- about the scandal which consumed the famed Knoedler Gallery in New York and Ann Friedman -- serves as the basis of this book. Avrich takes an in-depth look at everything that transpired, providing more detailed information about it than was presented in the documentary.

[Ceci Perez · Rating 2 out of 5]

2.5/4 stars. Picked up this book because it was recommended by someone that I admire. Boring. Couldn’t finish it. Packed full of lists and pictures to meet some word count so that it can be a book and not a pamphlet.

[M Evans · Rating 3 out of 5]

interesting story but marred with many grammatical and editing errors. relatively little information on the motivations or personal background of the key players. but I'm going to watch the movie now!

[Brandi · Rating 5 out of 5]

This was a well-researched, thorough look into the downfall of the Knoedler Gallery. I listened to this in a day because it was so good. If you enjoyed Sour Grapes on Netflix, this is for you.

Thank you RB Media and Net Galley for a copy of this audiobook!