Inside Gwyneth Paltrow’s Art-Scandal

Social media lit up when a supposed Ruth Asawa wire sculpture appeared in Gwyneth Paltrow’s Architectural Digest home-tour, only for the artist’s estate to declare the work inauthentic. The magazine has now issued a correction naming sculptor D’Lisa Creager as the real maker—underscoring how quickly misattributions can spread online and why provenance still matters.

On February 2, 2022 Architectural Digest published an inside look at Paltrow’s Montecito home. Viewers immediately noticed a delicate wire form resembling a classic Ruth Asawa hanging-loop sculpture. New York Times design critic Alexandra Lange tweeted a close-up, and the image circulated widely; overnight, art Twitter debated whether the Hollywood star had quietly secured a museum-grade Asawa.

David Zwirner - representatives of the Asawa estate - was asked to verify the sculpture; the gallery’s spokesperson was unequivocal: “This work is not by Ruth Asawa.” That verdict implied the piece was a knock-off or close imitation, and Architectural Digest quickly swapped the original wide photo for a tighter crop that erased the sculpture from view.

The next day the magazine issued a correction identifying the work as a piece by D’Lisa Creager, an artist who learned Asawa’s wire-looping technique from Asawa’s daughter, Aiko Cuneo. Creager’s works closely echo Asawa’s style, which has led to confusion in the past. A source close to the sale of the Ed Ruscha painting shown above Paltrow’s sofa confirmed that the painting is authentic.

Prices for Asawa originals have soared above seven figures in recent years, making accurate attribution critical. Publications often blur or crop artworks in celebrity interiors to avoid licensing fees or misattribution, but in this case the initial label slipped through. The episode highlights the growing market for works inspired by Asawa and the ongoing need for transparent provenance.

Why This Matters

This incident shows how a single miscaptioned photo can distort art history and market value within hours. In an era where social media amplifies every image, rigorous fact-checking and clear credit protect both artists’ legacies and collectors’ trust.