Fancy art guy in fraud caper

A PARK AVE. gallery owner who owes nearly $12 million to his clients was hit with federal fraud charges on Friday.

Ezra Chowaiki, founder of the once-tony Chowaiki & Co. gallery, faces wire fraud conspiracy and stolen property counts for tricking dealers and collectors into sending him money and art under “false pretenses,” according to a Manhattan Federal Court complaint.

While Chowaiki, 49, promised to buy, sell and consign pricey art, he “instead kept funds and artwork for himself and the gallery, or sold them to others both in and outside the United States without authorization,” the feds allege.

The Brooklyn resident ran the alleged scam from 2015 to November 2017, the eight-page complaint claims.

The gallery ultimately went bankrupt — owing $11.8 million despite having just $277,000 in assets, the feds said.

Before the gallery went bust, Chowaiki also hosted shows there, including with works from Pablo Picasso and Marc Chagall.

Reached on his cell phone, Chowaiki’s lawyer didn’t comment.