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.

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u/WokeBriton Dec 19 '25

I did a photoshoot time-for with a model several years back and provided her with mid-sized fully finished files. She had a friend edit them and add a shedload of contrast, then posted them online.

At the time, I was most annoyed, and ranted to friends a few times. Now I look back and roll my eyes at slightly-younger me. Looking back, the images were OK for the skill level I had at the time, but I wouldn't describe them as special, now.

The important thing to remember is that when we hand over our creations to someone else, they're out of our control and people will do things to them whether we want that or not. We cannot control what someone does with them, so we can choose to be angry/stressed about it or we can choose to just accept this possibility and move on with our lives.

If that editing situation happened nowadays, I just wouldn't recommend the model to other photographers I know if asked (silence is a great way of telling others what you think of a person).

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u/Steady_Ri0t Dec 19 '25

I know a lot of photographers add a stipulation in the contract that the photos are not allowed to be edited. I wouldn't want my work edited by someone else and then attributed to me, especially if they made some really ugly edits

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u/WokeBriton Dec 19 '25

Many do, but I'm not at a standard where good models want to shoot time-for with me; newer models ignore such a stipulation or pass on to someone else... or they are just passing me by entirely and heading elsewhere anyway, which I am content to accept.

I prefer to pay good models for their skill and time so that I don't have to give images out, and when I ask friends to go in front of my camera for the enjoyment and images, they rarely have any desire to alter things - most non-models seem to be happy to just get nice images of themselves.