Ep 152.2: Art World's Greatest Conman Escaped the Mafia & FBI Using This Tactic?! | Ken Perenyi

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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YouTube: https://youtu.be/MoZ5YOdHyJ4


Show notes: https://www.sothisismywhy.com/152


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