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In the book "Artifacts to Art: Collecting Ancient America in Midcentury L.A." (2026), a team of researchers excavates the story of Earl Stendahl, a mid-century gallerist who shamelessly stole ancient Mesoamerican objects and marketed them to the institutional art world.

hyperallergic.comThe Trafficker Who Furnished the Museums of LAA team of researchers excavates the story of Earl Stendahl, a mid-century gallerist who shamelessly stole ancient Mesoamerican objects and marketed them to the institutional art world.

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Earl Stendahl furnished the museums of Los Angeles with ancient objects that were never his to sell. Read the provenance before you read the wall text. The label tells you what the piece is. The paper tells you who lied, and when.