In this episode, Paris and Andrea are joined by Simon Frankel and Stephen Urice, co-authors of the newly released 6th edition of Law, Ethics, and the Visual Arts, the leading textbook shaping the field of art law.

Together, they explore the complex relationship between artistic freedom and government authority and unpack how the First Amendment applies to visual art.

From the cancellation of Amy Sherald’s exhibition at the Smithsonian to landmark legal battles over obscenity and censorship, we ask:

• What counts as protected expression?
• When, and why, can the government intervene?
• And who ultimately controls the art that reaches the public?

To learn more about the book, check out the links below: 

• https://cambridgeblog.org/2025/04/law-ethics-and-the-visual-arts/
• www.leva6.org

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In this episode, Paris and Andrea sit down with former FBI Art Crime Team agents Ronnie Walker and Dave Bass.

They share incredible stories from their time undercover, including recovering a multi-million dollar stolen pair of ruby slippers and bringing one of America’s most infamous art forgers to justice.

Now out of the Bureau, Ronnie and Dave reveal how their experiences led them to co-found The Art Legacy Institute, and what’s next in their mission to protect artists and their work.

A big thanks to Eva Bella for guiding the research for this episode.

Connect with Ronnie and Dave Here: 

• https://bsky.app/profile/artcrimeguy.bsky.social
• https://x.com/artcrimeguy
• https://www.linkedin.com/in/ronnie-walker-b64953176/
• https://www.linkedin.com/in/dave-bass-97a11b297/

For More Information: 

Art Legacy Institute:

• https://www.artlegacyinstitute.org/ 
• https://www.instagram.com/artlegacyinstitute_org/
• https://bsky.app/profile/artlegacyinstitute.bsky.social
• https://x.com/artlegacy_org

Alitheon: 

• https://alitheon.com/ 

AWS: 

• https://aws.amazon.com/government-education/nonprofits/?ams%23interactive-card-vertical%23pattern-data--2066256937.filter=%257B%2522filters%2522%253A%255B%255D%257D 

Ruby Slippers Case:

• https://www.washingtonpost.com/news/magazine/wp/2019/04/30/feature/the-case-of-dorothys-stolen-ruby-slippers/

Earl Washington Case: 

• https://www.nytimes.com/2024/07/18/arts/earl-washington-woodblocks-art-fraud.html?unlocked_article_code=1.ZE8.RkOq.-8-4beaBhG5o&smid=url-share

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In this episode, Paris and Andrea dive deep into a discussion on Artist Resale Rights. They talk about how these rights function differently across different countries, and why this issue remains such a hotly debated topic in the art world.

for more information check out this Center for Art Law article: https://itsartlaw.org/2019/07/01/its-not-that-easy-artist-resale-royalty-rights-and-the-art-act/ 

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Paris and Andrea sit down with Raymond Dowd, one of the foremost voices in art law and cultural and intellectual property.

Together, they speak with Raymond about his experiences working on cases involving Nazi-era looted art, with a particular focus on the case Cassirer v. Thyssen-Bornemisza Collection Foundation.

They also explore the complexities of navigating conflicting international legal systems, as well as the postwar incentives that fueled the acquisition of stolen art.

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In this episode, Atreya Mathur sits down with the podcast to explain all things AI and copyright, specifically highlighting the case Thaler v Perlmutter.  

Soon after our podcast with Atreya Mathur was recorded, the U.S. Copyright Office released a pre-publication of Part 3 of its Copyright and AI Report, focusing on the use of copyrighted works to train AI. Shortly after its release, Shira Perlmutter, the Register of Copyrights, was removed from office by the current administration. We hope to reconnect with Atreya soon to discuss the report, AI training, and fair use in light of these developments.

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Frida Kahlo’s face is everywhere—on tequila bottles, dolls, clothing, prepaid Mastercards, and beyond. But who actually owns the rights to her image? In this episode, we unravel the complexities of trademarking an artist’s likeness and how it has shaped, and sometimes distorted, Kahlo’s legacy. Can someone truly claim ownership over a person’s image after their death? And if so, under what terms? Tune in to explore the legal and ethical questions behind the commercialization of Frida Kahlo. 

Read more about Frida Kahlo's cases on the Center for Art Law's website: 

• https://itsartlaw.org/2024/06/20/owning-frida-kahlo-the-frida-kahlo-corporation-and-trademark-law/ 
• https://itsartlaw.org/2019/08/02/rolling-over-in-her-grave-frida-kahlos-trademarks-and-commodified-legacy/

Register for the Center for Art Law's new Summer School:

• https://itsartlaw.org/center-for-art-law-summer-school-2025/ 

Link to the FKC's Website: 

• https://www.fridakahlocorporation.com/

*note: we incorrectly named Mara Romeo, Mara Kahlo

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This week in ART IN BRIEF, Paris and Andrea explore fascinating case studies and complex questions that arise when art meets the environment.

What happens when art and artists engage with the natural world? How have they been challenged by regulations and legal limitations over the years?  Our new episode traces the hisotry of land art and legal battles that have shaped its evolution.

Don’t miss this deep dive into the legal and ethical complexities of art and the environment!

https://www.eventbrite.com/e/over-the-river-when-art-and-law-make-landfall-tickets-1138440438999?aff=ebdsoporgprofile

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What happens when the Getty Museum in Los Angeles and the Italian state find themselves in a decades long legal battle over a 2000 year old statue? Find out  in this weeks episode! 

For more information on the case: https://itsartlaw.org/2024/07/24/case-review-getty-v-italy-2024/

For more information on how the Getty Villa has been impacted by the LA fires: https://www.npr.org/2025/01/09/nx-s1-5252939/getty-villa-museum-threatened-by-wildfire-but-collection-remains-safe 

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Hosts Paris Sistilli and Andrea Konigs sit down with Irina Tarsis and Atreya Mathur to introduce the Center for Art Law's new podcast, Art in Brief. 

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