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Part I: Who Owns Street Art?

First Banksy

By Center for Art Law.

The reference to James Cuno's Who Owns Antiquity in the title of this article is not flippant.  The rhetoric and vocabulary that is passe in the discussion of cultural heritage is now relevant to disputes over street art, formerly known as "graffiti." A few years ago, even five years ago, street art held little or no value.  It was, in fact, considered a banal nuisance.

Street Art and Antiquities: The Concept of Monetary Value

Today, street art is a valuable commodity and collected by investors world-wide.  Peter Aspden of the Financial Times wrote in February that the concept of street art has drastically changed.  He wrote:


Banksy's "I Can't Believe You Morons Actually Buy this Shit"
marks the beginning of his commercial career.

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Disclaimer: This article is for educational purposes only and is not meant to provide legal advice. Readers should not construe or rely on any comment or statement in this article as legal advice. For legal advice, readers should seek a consultation with an attorney.