Artist Richard Prince Is Selling Other People’s Instagram Shots for Big Money
What if I told you there’s a guy in New York, selling your instagram posts to art collectors for a tremendous amount of money, guy you’ve probably never heard of and money you’re not getting any piece of?
You’d probably be a little pissed! And it’s completely understandable, at least to some degree, depending on just how far are you going to go in the pursuit of “justice”!
Artist Richard Prince is well known in the art world for “appropriating” other people’s work, making as little changes as it takes, and then selling it for large sums as his own art pieces!
After causing controversy with his previous projects, his latest endeavor is causing a fuss once again! Richard Prince is currently selling other people’s instagram pics, without even asking the ones who posted them, for as much as $100,000 each!
At the end of last year, through the months of September and October 2014, the Gagosian Gallery in NYC showcased a collection named “New Portraits” containing 38 pieces, and by pieces we mean screenshots of other people’s selfies and pictures, printed on large 48×65-inch canvases.
Images courtesy of Richard Prince and Gagosian Gallery via coolhunting.com
Just a few days ago a few new art pieces we’re exposed and sold at the recent Frieze Art Fair
Doe Deere woke up the next day with her inbox full and more notifications that ever before after many of her followers spotted her picture being used in the gallery. While many were curious to how she got her instagram post up in the art fair, most were outraged when they found out she had no idea that her pic was being sold.
The only modifications to the original were the removal of the caption and the comments selection. Her picture was sold in the VIP preview for $90,000, but it seems that she is not going to do anything about it.
After a wave of messages she responded to everyone using instagram:
Prince did a similar thing a few years back when he vaguely modified photographer’s Patrick Cariou picture and sold it for $100,000. Patrick filled a lawsuit towards Prince and won in 2011 but the decision was overruled in 2013, the judges finding it as “fair use”.
While judges are establishing precedents in terms of what is “fair use” Prince’s bank accounts are growing bigger!
What would you do if someone sold one of your pics without your permission for such an amount? Let us know in the comments!
