An art exhibition in New York is stirring controversy and raising some major ethics questions. Artist Richard Prince has been selling "his" pieces for $100,000 even though they are merely reprinted photos taken random Instagram accounts.
Owners of the Instagram photos have said that Prince never notified them of any intent to produce or exhibit their photos and they have not consented to the use of their images, reports WPTV.
Prince's only apparent contrinution to the pieces has been the addition of some comments to each of the portraits. He also sets them up on 48×65-inch canvasses, reports the Gothamist. The displays were first presented at the Gagosian Gallery in September and October of 2014 and are now at the Frieze Art Gallery.
DoeDeere, one of the Instagram users Prince allegedly pirated, posted the following message on her Instagram account, confirming that she did not grant permission to use her photos: "Yes, my portrait is currently displayed at the Frieze Gallery in NYC. Yes, it's just a screenshot (not a painting). No, I did not give my permission and, yes, the controversial artist Richard Prince put it up anyway."
Her "portrait" sold for $90,000, say reports.
