Artist Elizabeth Peyton Sued Over Painting of Oasis Brothers
Welsh music photographer Justin Thomas sued artist Elizabeth Peyton, David Zwirner Gallery, and Sotheby’s for copyright infringement in an August 20 filing in the Southern District of New York over Peyton’s painting Earl’s Court (Liam + Noel) (1996). Thomas alleges the painting is a “slavish copy” of his 1995 photograph of Oasis brothers Liam and Noel Gallagher embracing, arguing that the only meaningful changes are the medium, slight cropping, and altered color and brushwork. The photograph later appeared as a black-and-white print on the cover of Thomas’s 2024 book How Does It Feel? - Oasis 1995/2002. The complaint, filed by attorney Terry Parker, contends the work is not sufficiently “transformative” under copyright law, though it notes Peyton added small details such as a blue flower-patterned sleeve.
From This Briefing
This story was covered in Icons Fall, Museums Wobble, Art World Under Watch