“Readslikeamystery“--PBSNewsHour“You’llfindithardtoputdown.“--NPR,“BooksWeLove“Whenreclusive,millionaireartistRobertIndianadiedin2018,heleftbehinddarkrumorsandscandal,aswellasanestateembroiledinlawsuitsandfacingaccusationsoffraud.Here,forthefirsttime,areallthepiecestothebizarretruestoryoftheartist’sfinaldays,theaftermath,thedeceptiveworldthatsurroundedhim,andtheinnerworkingsofartasverybigbusiness.“I’mnotabusinessman,I’manartist,“RobertIndianasaid,refusingtocopyrighthisiconicLOVEsculpturein1965.Anoddandtorturedsoul,anartistwhowantedbothfameandsolitude,Indianasurroundedhimselfwithpeopletomanagehislifeandwork.Yet,hefrequentlychangedhismindandoftenfiredorbelittledthosewhoworkedwithhim.By2008,whenIndianacreatedthesculptureHOPE--ordidhe?--theartisthadsignedawayhisworkforotherstoexploit,creatingdoubtaboutwhetherhehadevenseenartworksoldforveryhighpricesunderhisname.Atthetimeofhisdeath,Indianaleftanestateworthmillions--andunsettlingsuspicions.Therewereallegationsoffraudulentartwork,ofelderabuse,ofcaregiverswhosubjectedhimtohorrendouslivingconditions.Therewerequestionsabouttheinconclusiveautopsyandrumorsthathisfinalwillhadbeensignedundercoercion.Therewerestrongsuspicionsaboutthefreeloaderswho’dattachedthemselvestothefamousartist.“Inthefinalhoursofhislife,“theauthorwrites,“RobertIndianawaswithoutthegraceofabetterangel,asthepeopleclosesttohimcoveredtheirtracksandplottedtheirdefenses.“WithunparalleledaccesstothekeyplayersinIndiana’slife,authorBobKeyestellsafast-pacedandrivetingstorythatprovidesarareinsidelookintothelifeofanartistaswellastheoften,toooften,unscrupulousworldofhigh-endart.Thereaderistakeninsidetheworldofartdealers,lawfirms,andanarrayoflocalcharactersinMainewhoselivesintersectedwiththeinternationallyreveredartistlivinginanoldOddFellowsHallonVinalhavenIsland.TheIsolationArtistisforanyoneinterestedincontemporaryart,business,andtheperilousintersectionbetweenthem.ItanextraordinarywindowintothelifeanddeathofasingularandcontradictoryAmericanartist--onewhoseworktouchedcountlessmillionsthrougheverythingfrompostagestampstopoliticalcampaignstomuseums--evenashelivedanddiedinisolation,withalackoflove,thelossofhope,andlotsandlotsofmoney.
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