Crabs in a Bucket: An Art Theft 🧵
Check out this cool art my Cousin Joe made back in February 2021. It's a canvas piece that was based upon a 48x72 beadwork piece from 2020. It features a pop art version of Sicangu Lakota Chief Iron Shell.
Neat, huh?
Well Jessie Fuentes (jessieleefuentes on IG) thought so too. Thought so enough that they printed it up and possibly sold it as their own. They posted their version to IG on January 3, 2023.
When told that their piece was not original Jessie says that they didn't rip off Joe. Instead they ripped off Gary Grayson because that makes it better I guess?
https://gary-grayson.pixels.com/featured/american-indian-chief-gary-grayson.html
Except Jessie's "art" looks nothing like Grayson's & everything like Joe's.
And while Joe is as accommodating as he is talented he really shouldn't have to fuck off like Jessie Fuentes says when his original work is being ripped off by a two bit hack who thinks they're IndiAndy Warhol.
Get legal. Intellectual property etc laws exist for a reason.
In Australia years ago, Bunjalung artist Bronwyn Bancroft won a well know court action when a painting of hers was reproduced without her permission as mass produced rugs.
Frances Danger
Aroha Groves
Abandoned America