MIAMI — It's still unclear why the FBI raided an Ardmore art gallery this summer. But a new lawsuit claims that after years of distancing his tarnished name from the business, the owner of Dane Fine Art participated in a multi-million-dollar scheme involving the sale of forged Andy Warhol pieces.
Judy and Richard Perlman — a married couple who collects art in Florida — claims they spent $6.7 million on works presented as Warhol originals by the owner of Miami Fine Art Gallery. They later discovered those works were forged, according to a lawsuit filed last week by the couple's attorneys.
The gallery owner, Leslie Roberts, told the Perlmans he could purchase Warhol's work at a major discount through his relationship with the Andy Warhol Foundation. But no such relationship existed, and the artwork appeared authentic thanks to the work of co-conspirators, including Dane Fine Art owner Nathan "Nicky" Isen, the lawsuit says.
Last year, Roberts was federally indicted on charges accusing him of fraudulently selling artwork at his gallery that he claimed were Warhol originals. His Miami gallery has closed.
The recent lawsuit identifies several people who allegedly conspired with Roberts, including Dane Fine Art owner Nathan "Nicky" Isen.
The FBI raided Dane Fine Art in July but didn't reveal why. No recent criminal charges against Isen have been announced.
For decades, Isen operated I. Brewster & Company Gallery in Philadelphia. But his activities drew FBI scrutiny, leading to a 2015 conviction for money laundering.
Federal authorities say Isen sold 12 pieces of artwork to launder $20,000 in cash from an undercover officer whom he thought was involved in drug deals. Isen faced up to 20 years in prison. But he was sentenced to 320 hours of community service, a $15,000 fine and forfeiture of the cash.
A year later, Isen was sued for fraud after trying to sell purported Warhol paintings that were significantly underpriced, according to the recent lawsuit.
Due to his mounting legal troubles, Isen rebranded I. Brewster to Dane Fine Art, the lawsuit says. Dane Fine Art continues to operate in Ardmore, calling itself an art gallery and auction house with work by major artists, including Warhol, Pablo Picasso and Salvador Dali.
The rebrand wasn't quite successful. By 2023, Dane Fine Art was flooded with negative reviews. Alleged victims claimed Isen tore pages from art books, sold them as originals and gave them phony certificates of authenticity, the lawsuit says.
Appraisers and sophisticated art collectors knew Isen's tactics, so he formed a conspiracy with Roberts, according to the complaint. Roberts could sell forged artwork at his Miami gallery, which had no connection to Isen's name.
A few years ago, the Perlmans met Roberts at his gallery while shopping for art in Miami. Roberts claimed he had a relationship with the Warhol Foundation and could acquire the artist's original work at steep discounts.
"Roberts was a known art dealer, with a significant public gallery, and a seemingly large inventory of important artwork," the lawsuit says. "He appeared to be trustworthy and knowledgeable."
To solidify their trust, Roberts put the Perlmans in touch with a purported Warhol Foundation employee named "Alex Herman." But they were actually emailing Roberts, and Herman was made up, the lawsuit says.
From 2023-24, the Perlmans bought several purported Warhol works from Roberts. At Roberts's suggestion, they even entered a joint venture with him to sell some of them and split the profits, the lawsuit says.
In late 2023, the Perlmans asked an auction house to view their Warhol collection and certify its authenticity. The auction house reviewed them and expressed doubts.
The couple immediately informed Roberts, whose gallery said that Phillips — another reputable auction house — would visit the Perlmans' home to evaluate, the lawsuit says.
Several weeks later, they were visited by two people claiming to work for Phillips. They inspected the works and said they were authentic. But the Perlmans later found out that these people didn't work for Phillips.
Isen and Dane Fine Art forged and provided some of these works, while others were painted by two people in Peru, the lawsuit claims. All of them are among the defendants in the case.
The FBI raided Dane Fine Art in late July. An agency spokesperson said the agents were "conducting court authorized law enforcement activity" but didn't share anything further.
The business is located on Haverford Road, in the Ardmore section of Haverford Township.
The recent lawsuit was filed Miami-Dade County Circuit Court in Florida. An attorney contact for Isen didn't immediately return comment to Patch.
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