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Rights in Visual Arts

Visual artworks—whether paintings, photographs, sculptures, installations, or digital media—are protected by rights that give artists control over their creations, covering both creative identity and economic value.

French artist Hervé Di Rosa, in his Paris studio introduces the topic of rights in visual arts.
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Hello.

I am Hervé Di Rosa.

I work within many different mediums, including painting, sculpture, ceramic, and installation art.

But, whatever medium I use to create, and whatever your area of artmaking is, one principle is constant for us and for all visual artists — artwork is protected by law, and the law grants you rights.

First, there are moral rights.

Moral rights protect your personal connection to your art.

As a creator, you have the right to be recognized as the author of your work.

You also have the right to object if someone changes your work in a way that harms your reputation.

Second, there are economic rights.

Economic rights give you exclusive control over how your work is used.

For example, you have rights when others seek to reproduce, distribute, publicly display, or share your work.

In some countries there are also additional rights such as the resale right, which allows artists to receive a small percentage when their works are resold on the art market.

Moral rights and economic rights protect your work and give you control.

To understand these rights and what they mean for you, read our pages on Rights in Visual Arts.

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