Eric Doeringer is best known for a series of forgeries that he sells on the streets of New York City and yes, in galleries. He calls this series “Bootlegs” because the works are copies of contemporary paintings made famous by all the usual suspects within the art star system. These aesthetic clones have become a type of barometer for contemporary art’s appeal to the random person on the street.

Eric can tell you what the public really likes in terms of well-known works of art made in the past fifteen years. The original vs. the copy is often misunderstood and the “Bootleg” series is no exception. Eric’s appropriations force the viewer to reconsider idealized concepts about creativity and the value we place on the new. Doeringer, who is represented by Creative Thriftshop , curated the upcoming group exhibition “I Like The Art World And The Art World Likes Me” at efa Project Space. That show opens January 14th. Corey Armpriester met the artist in December in New York to ask him about his work.

Corey Armpriester – How many lawyers do you and your gallery have on retainer?
Eric Doeringer – I don’t have any lawyers on retainer, I don’t know about the gallery. I have used Volunteer Lawyers For the Arts and have consulted with them on a few things. So far, I haven’t had any serious legal trouble.

CA – How often are you arrested by NYPD for selling art on the streets of NYC?
ED – I was never actually arrested, I did have an issue once with an art dealer who called the police on me because he didn’t like the idea that I was out on the street selling art. (Click here for more on that story.)

CA – Was that Mike Wiess?
ED -Yes.

CA – I tried getting him on the phone but he never returned my call.
ED - He probably doesn’t want to talk about it. At the time my understanding was that you could sell art on the streets of New York City. It turns out that it’s true and it is a part of your first amendment rights. But if you’re selling something you have to get a certificate of authority, which basically means registering to pay sales tax to the state. The cops asked if I had that and I didn’t, so they made me pack up for the day but didn’t actually arrest me.

CA – Did you confront Mike Wiess?