Authenticity on Trial: The Story Behind Long-Sharp Gallery
16 June 2025
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By Catherine Milner – Treasure House Fair Magazine Editor
Lawyers don’t usually become art dealers—but then again, both professions require a keen eye for evidence and the ability to spot a fake from a mile away.
Rhonda Long-Sharp spent decades defending death row clients in America’s highest courts before channelling her passion for art into a thriving gallery. After years in courtrooms, she now finds fulfilment working with artists in their studios. “The depth and breadth of talent on this planet is just astounding”, she says. The turning point came when Rhonda and her husband, eager but inexperienced, bought works they believed were by Picasso and Dalí—only to learn they were probably fakes.
“This experience literally stole my joy”, Rhonda recalls, “I spent several years learning as much as I could about the art world and was disillusioned.” Instead of walking away, Rhonda turned the experience into fuel, launching Long-Sharp Gallery in 2005. What began as a personal mission to protect fellow collectors grew into an international gallery specialising in post-war and contemporary multiples, works on paper, and sculpture.
“There are a lot of steps that must be taken before a piece of evidence can be put before a court or jury”, she explains. “Thinking in this way, it is our responsibility to be able to back up what we say about a work of art.” Trust is paramount, she contends, the gallery maintains a digital library of high-resolution images of each work, offers lifetime warranties on authenticity, and ensures that provenance is well-documented and easily accessible.
Fragile Frequencies 1.0 © Julia Ibbini
Building credibility as a gallery owner required overcoming scepticism—not just from the art world at large, but even from her neighbours. “Even people from Indianapolis said they only bought their art in New York”, Rhonda recalls. To bridge that gap, Long-Sharp Gallery opened a project space in Manhattan and grew its collector base by participating in art fairs like the Treasure House Fair. Today, an impressive 98% of the gallery’s clients are based outside Indianapolis—a testament to Rhonda’s commitment to staying closely connected with collectors around the world.
In addition, technology has played a crucial role in expanding the gallery’s reach. “We started using e-catalogues in 2008, our first virtual gallery opened in 2011, and we have always been on Artnet”, Rhonda explains. One of the unique aspects of Long-Sharp Gallery is its mother-daughter leadership. Rhonda’s daughter, Nicole, a lawyer like her mother, manages legal matters for the gallery and focuses on living artists and exhibitions. Rhonda meanwhile, dedicates her expertise to acquiring new works.
From her early fascination with prints—especially those by Roy Lichtenstein and Andy Warhol—to the large-scale, joyful paintings by the late British artist David Spiller, whose estate the gallery represents in the UK, Long-Sharp offers collectors a rich variety of post-war and contemporary art forms. “One of David’s monumental paintings hangs at the entrance to our home. It is simply impossible to be sad around one of his paintings”.
At the Beach © Roy Lichtenstein
The market in works on paper and multiples is especially complex to work in, on account of forgeries; the advent of AI is likely to make detecting them even harder. “There is an assumption that all art in the market is authentic, but that is far from the case”, Rhonda explains. “We’re more knowledgeable today, but the risks remain, which is why provenance and expert authentication are essential.” At this year’s Treasure House Fair, the gallery will showcase pieces by Roy Lichtenstein, Andy Warhol, and David Spiller, as well as works by Spiller’s wife, Moira Cameron, for the first time. The exhibition will also feature sculptures by Patrick Hurst, the kinetic “rock crystal” creations of Tarik Currimbhoy, and the sculptural Symbio Vessels of Jullia Ibbini.
Rhonda’s sharp eye for beauty and detail shines through in every aspect of the gallery’s work. Whether cross-examining a witness in court or vetting a Warhol, she brings the same keen curiosity and careful judgement to both. “Four principles guide us: exercising due diligence in everything we do; adhering to ethical practices; approaching our work with creativity; and surrounding ourselves with like-minded people”, she says.
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Rhonda Long-Sharp (Owner) and Nicole ML Sharp (Director)
Lawyers don’t usually become art dealers—but then again, both professions require a keen eye for evidence and the ability to spot a fake from a mile away.
Rhonda Long-Sharp spent decades defending death row clients in America’s highest courts before channelling her passion for art into a thriving gallery. After years in courtrooms, she now finds fulfilment working with artists in their studios. “The depth and breadth of talent on this planet is just astounding”, she says. The turning point came when Rhonda and her husband, eager but inexperienced, bought works they believed were by Picasso and Dalí—only to learn they were probably fakes.
“This experience literally stole my joy”, Rhonda recalls, “I spent several years learning as much as I could about the art world and was disillusioned.” Instead of walking away, Rhonda turned the experience into fuel, launching Long-Sharp Gallery in 2005. What began as a personal mission to protect fellow collectors grew into an international gallery specialising in post-war and contemporary multiples, works on paper, and sculpture.
“There are a lot of steps that must be taken before a piece of evidence can be put before a court or jury”, she explains. “Thinking in this way, it is our responsibility to be able to back up what we say about a work of art.” Trust is paramount, she contends, the gallery maintains a digital library of high-resolution images of each work, offers lifetime warranties on authenticity, and ensures that provenance is well-documented and easily accessible.
Fragile Frequencies 1.0 © Julia Ibbini
Building credibility as a gallery owner required overcoming scepticism—not just from the art world at large, but even from her neighbours. “Even people from Indianapolis said they only bought their art in New York”, Rhonda recalls. To bridge that gap, Long-Sharp Gallery opened a project space in Manhattan and grew its collector base by participating in art fairs like the Treasure House Fair. Today, an impressive 98% of the gallery’s clients are based outside Indianapolis—a testament to Rhonda’s commitment to staying closely connected with collectors around the world.
In addition, technology has played a crucial role in expanding the gallery’s reach. “We started using e-catalogues in 2008, our first virtual gallery opened in 2011, and we have always been on Artnet”, Rhonda explains. One of the unique aspects of Long-Sharp Gallery is its mother-daughter leadership. Rhonda’s daughter, Nicole, a lawyer like her mother, manages legal matters for the gallery and focuses on living artists and exhibitions. Rhonda meanwhile, dedicates her expertise to acquiring new works.
From her early fascination with prints—especially those by Roy Lichtenstein and Andy Warhol—to the large-scale, joyful paintings by the late British artist David Spiller, whose estate the gallery represents in the UK, Long-Sharp offers collectors a rich variety of post-war and contemporary art forms. “One of David’s monumental paintings hangs at the entrance to our home. It is simply impossible to be sad around one of his paintings”.
At the Beach © Roy Lichtenstein
The market in works on paper and multiples is especially complex to work in, on account of forgeries; the advent of AI is likely to make detecting them even harder. “There is an assumption that all art in the market is authentic, but that is far from the case”, Rhonda explains. “We’re more knowledgeable today, but the risks remain, which is why provenance and expert authentication are essential.” At this year’s Treasure House Fair, the gallery will showcase pieces by Roy Lichtenstein, Andy Warhol, and David Spiller, as well as works by Spiller’s wife, Moira Cameron, for the first time. The exhibition will also feature sculptures by Patrick Hurst, the kinetic “rock crystal” creations of Tarik Currimbhoy, and the sculptural Symbio Vessels of Jullia Ibbini.
Rhonda’s sharp eye for beauty and detail shines through in every aspect of the gallery’s work. Whether cross-examining a witness in court or vetting a Warhol, she brings the same keen curiosity and careful judgement to both. “Four principles guide us: exercising due diligence in everything we do; adhering to ethical practices; approaching our work with creativity; and surrounding ourselves with like-minded people”, she says.
Rhonda Long-Sharp (Owner) and Nicole ML Sharp (Director)