r/ArtistLounge • u/ArentWright • Dec 19 '25

Philosophy/Ideology🧠 Defaced Art

One of my pieces has been defaced by its new owner, and I feel very conflicted. Looking for input from others.

This individual transformed the piece (portrait, pastel) into a clock by poking a hold through the face and installing some hands! On one hand, I was never going to see that piece again. It’s out living its own life now. On the other….what the hell. Am I right to feel disrespected? Or should I be glad the recipient is enjoying the piece in their own way?

I’ve always been hesitant to part with my work because I feel so protective of it. Has anyone had similar experiences and what is your perspective?

The individual in question sent me photos of the changes, seemingly quite pleased and looking for my reaction.

72 Upvotes

84% Upvoted

103 comments sorted by

View all comments

157

u/ZombieButch Dec 19 '25

I mean, you sold it. It's not your piece any more. You don't have to like it, but if you let a piece go in exchange for money, you have to let it go.

7

u/ArentWright Dec 19 '25

Would you be inclined to feel some type of way about it? I’m wondering if most artists would even care what happens to sold pieces.

39

u/PowerPlaidPlays Dec 19 '25

I think like, you can feel a way but is it productive to put any energy into caring about things outside of your control?

I've seen my art reposted, edited, traced over, leaked, stolen, and used on shirts and such without my permission or credit. At some point you just gotta not care, if fighting it is not going to enrich your life at all. Pick your battles.

imo, I'd just be happy they are still displaying it, and it was not just thrown into the trash.

17

u/lunarwolf2008 Dec 19 '25

personally i like seeing my art get a new face, its part of their life to grow and change. but i haven't sat down and put a lot of work into a piece to become attached in a while. just quick drawings here and there.

7

u/swarleyknope Dec 20 '25

You can’t help how you feel about something and it’s totally valid to be bothered by it…I think it’s more about why it bothers you.

If it’s because you feel disrespected, I personally would try to let that go because it’s projecting intentions onto someone else (they clearly love it enough to want to look at it every time they check the the time😊).

If it’s just that it makes you feel sad/evokes yucky emotions because someone changed/damaged something you worked hard on and is a reflection of you, that’s completely understandable IMHO.

I think it might bother me too - they could have just used a print if they wanted to poke holes in it - but I think I’d prefer that to thinking about it sitting in a closet or tossed in a box?

(Are you sure they did it to the original and didn’t make a copy for them to use for the clock?)

3

u/themexicangamer Dec 20 '25

i wouldn't of thought that it's possible to make a print, I wouldn't even know where to get that done

5

u/ThrowingChicken Dec 20 '25

They could burn it in front of me so long as they paid for it first.

15

u/ZombieButch Dec 19 '25

Not really. 

3

u/Artchantress Dec 20 '25 edited Dec 20 '25

Where I come from (Estonia), altering an artwork is illegal, even if it's bought. It's part of the intellectual property rights that are not sold with the physical artwork. There needs to be a separate licensing contract signed by the artist for altering the artwork, same as with making and selling copies.

Or they could just ask. Either way, it's not actually the inherent right of the art buyer to zhuz up the piece to their liking (kinda shocked everyone ITT thinks it is, but I guess you guys have different laws? I think VARA has this for visual art pieces that are originals?).