Episode 1: Angels and Devils

In March 2000, conceptual artist Mark Lombardi was on the cusp of something he’d always dreamed of. With two solo art shows complete, he was about to gain international recognition for his work. So why was the 48-year-old found dead in his New York apartment? Could Mark’s work have had something to do with his untimely death? His intricate line drawings blur the line between art and investigative journalism, revealing startling connections between political and financial power brokers around the world.  Reeling from his loss, Mark’s friends reconsider what they knew about him. Even in his late 40s, a latecomer to the art scene, he’d been tirelessly ambitious and hungry for success. But the more his art revealed about the world, the looser Mark’s grip on it became. Was he really being watched, or was he just paranoid? When the FBI comes calling, requesting to view his masterwork, it can no longer be dismissed as conspiracy. But Mark is already dead.  This is episode one of The Illuminator: Art, Conspiracy, and Madness, a new series from Brazen, hosted by Ako Mitchell. For early access to new episodes, ad-free listening, and more, subscribe to Brazen+ at brazen.fm/plus.  To see Lombardi’s expansive BCCI drawing in full, visit brazen.fm/illuminator Content Warning: This episode contains references to suicide. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices Support our show by becoming a premium member! https://brazen.fm/plus/

Om Podcasten

Mark Lombardi, a conceptual artist on the cusp of international success, had everything to live for. So why was the 48-year-old found dead, and his death ruled a suicide? Was it the ultimate conceptual art, an afterlife laugh at those who doubted his brilliance? He did, after all, carry business cards eerily portending "death defying acts of art and conspiracy." Or was he ultimately overwhelmed by the subject of his work: the financial networks connecting some of the most powerful and corrupt people on earth? His intricate drawings traced hot money, from Cold War funding to the heroin trade. But his most dogged scrutiny fell on the Bank of Credit and Commerce International, a global money laundry bankrolling fraudsters, smugglers, and CIA operations abroad. Since his death, Lombardi's masterwork on the rogue bank has been held at the Whitney Museum of American Art. Could it be responsible for his demise? The answer can only be found within Lombardi himself. Support our show by becoming a premium member! https://brazen.fm/plus/