Meet the Man Who Helps the FBI Spot Fake Warhols

In 2016, Ron Rivlin, founder of Los Angeles’s Andy Warhol–focused Revolver Gallery, fell victim to a life-changing scam. After four years of collecting and selling Warhol’s works, he purchased two counterfeit paintings that he believed to be by the artist. Upon seeing them in person, he identified the fakes and pursued the counterfeit seller. These forgeries—the only two to ever slip past Rivlin’s experienced eye—thrust him on an unexpected path, where he would go on to help train the FBI in their counterfeit detections. Today, as well as being one of the most reputable dealers of works by Warhol, Rivlin is at the forefront of the battle against art fraud.

The risk of fraud is particularly heightened for potential collectors of works by Warhol, one of the most prolific and popular artists of his generation. According to Rivlin’s research in his book 2023 Print Market Report: The Royal Warhol Year, average prices for works by Warhol skyrocketed 3,400% between 1987 and 2010.

For Rivlin, it is imperative to preserve and protect the artist’s market from forgeries. By leveraging his expertise and commitment to authenticity, he intends to nurture a more discerning and informed collector base as a leading figure in the Warhol market. “Our mission is deeply rooted in my dual role as both a collector and an educator,” Rivlin said. “It’s about connection—from the hands-on dealings I personally have with every collector to the educational initiatives that spark this passion in others.…We’re not just preserving Warhol’s legacy; we’re actively sharing it, ensuring its resonance with the youth and future generations.”

Upholding this legacy, Revolver is currently presenting an online sale on Artsy, titled “100 Warhols,” featuring a selection of works at a range of price points, including prints, trial proofs and uniques, complete portfolios, and paintings. The sale, which runs from February 15th through March 15th, highlights how Revolver Gallery’s single-artist program has evolved as a sanctuary for Warhol enthusiasts of all stripes.

Rivlin’s path into the art world is an unconventional one. Before opening Revolver, he worked in the music industry for nearly 20 years, starting out with artists like Run-D.M.C., Biz Markie, Mos Def, and EDM superstars like Junior Vasquez and Louie Vega. Then, in 2012, Rivlin first entered the art world when the gallerist and his wife, Tanya, started to decorate the walls of their new home. “I needed big art and immediately thought, ‘Andy Warhol,’” said Rivlin. As a fan of the Rolling Stones, he envisioned four prints from Warhol’s iconic 1975 “Mick Jagger” series as the perfect fit. After calling a friend in Toronto who purchased one edition about 10 years prior, Rivlin became enthralled when he learned that the value of the prints had jumped significantly since his friend first bought them.

“I realized these weren’t just prints; they were goldmines of cultural history and a good investment,” Rivlin said. “I started buying up as many Warhols as I could. If I could see it hanging over my sofa, it was a yes. That’s how my collection and Revolver Gallery really got rolling.”

From there, Rivlin’s fascination with Warhol and the art market inspired an obsession. Over the space of one week, the gallerist recalls buying 20 works by the artist. As his collection grew, the landlord for his music management business in Beverly Hills leased him a space to store the works. Then, the same landlord encouraged him to open a gallery. In Revolver Gallery’s first year, Rivlin purchased more than 100 Warhols.

Rivlin opened the gallery as an outsider, facing the art world head-on. He spent years working to develop trust, learning everything he could about Warhol and his body of work. “I wasn’t your typical gallery owner—no art degree, little gallery experience, and I was still learning about collecting,” Rivlin said. “People saw me as ‘the new guy,’ but I was so passionate about Warhol—not just his artworks but the mystery behind the man. For the first few years, I was determined to learn everything about Warhol. I dove into his history, not only books but personal stories from people who knew him.”

This desire to immerse others in the Pop Art icon’s work has established Revolver as a veritable bastion of the Warhol market, which, according to Rivlin, has the world’s most extensive gallery-owned collection of works by the artist, with more than 400 prints and paintings.

In recent years, Rivlin’s vision has elevated Revolver beyond a gallery space to become an educational and cultural hub where Warhol’s work is not only displayed but contextualized. This transformation speaks to the gallerist’s broader ambition of making Warhol’s art accessible and engaging for a diverse audience.

Revolver’s influence reaches far beyond its current brick-and-mortar space on Sunset Boulevard. The gallery is renowned for its expansive Warhol exhibitions, many of which are designed to travel and engage communities worldwide. These exhibitions include “Andy Warhol Revisited: A Mirror For Today” in 2015, the largest Warhol exhibition in Canadian history, hosted at a former Guess store in Toronto. Another recent highlight was “Andy Warhol: Cars from the Mercedes Benz Art Collection” in 2022, which showcased Warhol’s “Cars” series, originally commissioned by the carmaker in 1986 in celebration of the 100th anniversary of the motor car, first hosted at the Petersen Automotive Museum in Los Angeles.

Through endeavors such as these, Rivlin hopes to create a monumental showcase for the artist that cuts across generations and audiences.

“[I] want to create that level of enduring presence for him,” Rivlin said. “An exhibit that doesn’t just stop but lives on, circling back every decade to amaze new generations, to keep Warhol in the conversation as a continual source of inspiration.”