Art Law Conference 2026

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What is Copy, Right?

Location Brooklyn Law School (NYC) and Online FORCHELLI CENTER AT BROOKLYN LAW SCHOOL (22nd Floor) 205 State St, Brooklyn, NY 11201

Date & Time Wednesday, May 27, 2026, 12 p.m. – 5:30 p.m.

Reception 5:30 p.m. – 7:00 p.m.

Donate to the Auction! Book your ticket now!

You are invited to our 2026 Annual Art Law Conference!

Join us on May 27 for the highly anticipated Art Law Conference 2026, held at Brooklyn Law School and Online (Hybrid). Entitled “What is Copy, Right? Visual Art, AI, and the Law in the 21st Century,” this year’s conference explores the evolving relationship between visual art, copyright law, and artificial intelligence.

Our event will feature a series of dynamic panels, each offering invaluable insights into the rapidly shifting landscape of art and copyright law. Together, let’s trace the impact of copyright law on visual arts, examine the U.S. Copyright Office’s landmark reports on AI, and contemplate the future of licensing in a world where registration is no longer enough.

In addition to substantive portion of the day, our conference with feature exhibitors and a silent auction aimed at raising funds to support Center’s Summer Internship program and bolster our efforts to provide accessible and affordable legal resources to the artistic community.

The conference will feature a keynote presentation on copyright, creativity, and artificial intelligence, followed by panels focused on:

Panel 1: So Inappropriate — Lessons About Copyright Law and Art: First There Was Art, Then Copyright, Then Fair Use… and Now AI?
Panel 2: The Copyright Office Weighs In — Three Reports on AI and the Law
Panel 3: Registration Is Dead? Long Live Licensing?

The day will conclude with a networking reception and silent auction results.

Conference Information

Program

Keynote Address by Ben Zhao, Neubauer Professor of Computer Science at University of Chicago and Founder, Nightshade & Glaze

Panel 1: So Inappropriate — Lessons About Copyright Law and Art: First There Was Art, Then Copyright, Then Fair Use… and Now AI?

Panel 2: The Copyright Office Weighs In — Three Reports on AI and the Law

Panel 3: Registration Is Dead? Long Live Licensing?

Closing Remarks by Lindsay Korotkin, Partner, ArentFox Schiff

Networking Reception and Silent Auction Results

Exhibitors through the day:

Buy Your Ticket HERE

Schedule

11:30 AM – Check-in opens

12:00 – 12:10 PM – Opening Remarks

12:10 – 12:40 PM – Keynote Address: Ben ZHAO, Neubauer Professor of Computer Science at University of Chicago and Founder, Nightshade & Glaze

12:45 – 2:00 PM – Panel 1: So Inappropriate — Lessons About Copyright Law and Art: First There Was Art, Then Copyright, Then Fair Use… and Now AI?

From early copyright doctrines to contemporary fair use debates, this panel examines how artists and lawyers have navigated questions of ownership, appropriation, and originality in visual art. Panelists will explore key developments in copyright law affecting traditional artistic practices, from borrowing and remixing to transformative use, while also considering how emerging technologies, including AI, are beginning to reshape long-standing legal frameworks and artistic norms.

Moderator: Irina TARSIS, Founder, Center for Art Law

Speakers: Vivek JAYARAM, Founder, Jayaram Law; Vincent WILCKE, Pace Gallery; Greg ALLEN, Artist and writer.

2:00 – 2:15 PM – Remarks from our Sponsors: Amaya ARAMBURU, Client Relations & Business Development, Art Recognition

2:15 – 2:30 PM – Break

2:30 – 3:45 PM – Panel 2: The Copyright Office Weighs In — Three Reports on AI and the Law

This panel examines the U.S. Copyright Office’s three recent reports on artificial intelligence and copyright, unpacking what they clarify, and what they leave unresolved about authorship, ownership, and protection in the age of AI. Panelists will also situate these reports within the broader legal landscape, touching on emerging litigation and contested issues shaping how AI-generated and AI-assisted works are treated under current copyright law.

Moderator: Atreya MATHUR, Director of Legal Research, Center for Art Law

Speakers: Ben ZHAO, Neubauer Professor of Computer Science at University of Chicago and Founder, Nightshade & Glaze; Katherine WILSON MILNE, Partner, Schindler Cohen & Hochman LLP; Representative, Copyright Office

3:45 – 4:00 PM – Break

4:00 – 5:15 PM – Panel 3: Registration Is Dead? Long Live Licensing?

As copyright enforcement becomes more complex, this panel explores the evolving role of registration and the growing importance of licensing agreements in protecting creative works. Panelists will discuss how artists, rights holders, and legal practitioners navigate enforcement today, examining when registration still matters, how licensing structures are being used strategically, and what effective rights management looks like in a shifting legal and art market landscape.

Moderator: Carol J. STEINBERG, Art, Copyright & Entertainment Law Attorney, Faculty, School of Visual Arts

Speakers: Janet HICKS, Vice President and Director of Licensing, Artists Rights Society; Yayoi SHIONOIRI, art lawyer and Vice President of External Affairs and General Counsel at Powerhouse Arts; Martin CRIBBS, Intellectual Property Licensing Strategist

5:15 – 5:30 PM – Closing Remarks by Lindsay KOROTKIN, Partner, ArentFox Schiff

5:30 – 7:00 PM – Networking Reception and Silent Auction Results

Moderators and Speakers

Ben Zhao Neubauer Professor of Computer Science at University of Chicago and Founder, Nightshade & Glaze

Conference Information

Policies

We are committed to the safety and well-being of all our in-person 2026 art law conference registrants. Set out here are other in-person Meeting policies, including our cancellation, refund, and substitution policies.

Tickets

General Admission (Legal Professional) In Person $250.00
General Admission (Legal Professional ) Online $175.00
General Admission (Arts Professional) In Person $200.00
General Admission (Arts Professional) Online $125.00
Students (In person) $40.00
Students (Online) $30.00
Conference Reception Only $60.00

Silent Auction “Art & Law” 2026

Art & Law Silent Auction

Auction Preview

This silent auction supports the Center for Art Law’s mission to advance artists’ rights and provide accessible legal resources to the artistic community. All proceeds go directly toward the Center’s programs, including our Summer Internship and ongoing educational initiatives.

Bidding will take place online through an easy-to-use platform, open to both in-person and remote (in NYC) participants.

The auction catalogue will feature tangible and intangible offerings, including legal consultations with attorneys specializing in copyright, contracts, immigration, and estate and legacy planning; guidance from tax advisors; art and law books; professional appraisals; art tours; and immersive art experiences. A select number of original artworks will also be available for bidding.

Catalogue

Our selection includes:

Books
Consultations
Art Works
Walking Tours and Other Experiences

Interested in donating items for the silent auction? Contact us!

Silent Auction Donation Form

Donate to the Auction

The Exhibitors Space

The Center is pleased to welcome exhibitors whose work advances the rights, resources, and recognition of artists and creative professionals. The Exhibitors Space brings together organizations at the forefront of artist advocacy, legal education, publishing, and technology innovation. Visitors will have the opportunity to engage directly with nonprofits and advocacy groups dedicated to protecting artists’ rights and cultural heritage; publishers and research institutions producing scholarship at the intersection of art and law; and technology companies developing tools that support transparency, provenance research, rights management, and the future of the art market.

Meet Our Exhibitors