Artists generally have some control over whether their works are shown in places accessible to the public. This is often referred to as the .
In some countries, the right of public display exists as a distinct known as the . More commonly, however, public display is addressed through a combination of copyright rules, , ownership of the physical copy, and contractual arrangements.
Public display or exhibition rights generally concern the physical presentation of the original artwork, or a lawful physical copy, in public spaces such as galleries, museums, or art fairs. In some countries, the owner of a physical copy may display it publicly, though this may be limited by the law or the rights the artist kept when selling the work.
A common limitation is that public display rights are location-based: the work may be shown only at the place where the physical copy is located, and only to viewers present at that location. Technological means of display, such as projection, may be permitted in this context, while remote or online transmissions are generally excluded and instead fall under or (or so-called making available) rights.
For more information, visit our page on Communication to the Public.
Selling an artwork affects the public display right in different ways from one country to another. In some systems, selling a physical copy limits the artist’s control over how it is shown in public. In others, the artist keeps these rights unless they are expressly transferred. National copyright rules set the baseline, but contracts play a central role in clarifying or modifying how those rights are applied.
Ask yourself: What does my national law say about public display of artworks, and have I clarified this in my agreements?
Image credit: ASphotowed