The US Marshals Service is auctioning four artworks by Pablo Picasso, Jean-Michel Basquiat, and Diane Arbus that were surrendered to the US Department of Justice in connection with the 1Malaysia Development Berhad (1MDB) scandal. The online-only auction, run by Gaston and Sheehan auction house in Texas, began on July 16 and closes on September 4, with no buyer's premium. The works include Basquiat's *Self Portrait* (1982) and *Red Man One* (1982), Picasso's *Tête de taureau et broc* (1939), and Arbus's *Child with a Toy Hand Grenade* (1962). The pieces were linked to fugitive financier Jho Low and actor Leonardo DiCaprio, who surrendered them after they were located in Switzerland.
This auction matters because it represents a rare instance of high-profile artworks tied to a major international corruption scandal being sold directly by the US government, with starting bids that art advisors describe as "crazy" relative to market value. The case highlights the intersection of art, money laundering, and celebrity, while also testing buyer appetite in a sluggish art market. The simple auction website and the tainted provenance may deter some bidders, but could offer opportunities for savvy collectors seeking discounted works with dramatic backstories.