# Who holds the copyright to original artwork

lionvaplus.com · September 13, 2026

> The copyright to original artwork typically belongs to the artist who created it, unless the artist has signed over the copyright to the person or...

The copyright to original artwork typically belongs to the artist who created it, unless the artist has signed over the copyright to the person or company who commissioned the work. This situation is more likely to arise when an artist produces original artwork for businesses and corporations, rather than for private buyers. To qualify for copyright protection, artwork must be original and fixed in a tangible object such as paper, canvas, or a digital medium. It does not need to have artistic merit to be protected by copyright. The Visual Artist Rights Act of 1990 (VARA) gives artists certain rights of attribution and disavowal, even after the ownership of the actual tangible work of art has been transferred to a collector or institution. However, VARA only applies to certain types of visual art, such as paintings, drawings, prints, sculptures, and photographs of recognized stature existing in a single copy or a limited edition of 200 signed and numbered copies or fewer.

**Also worth reading:** [How to copyright music in videos and protect your original tracks from unauthorized use?](https://lionvaplus.com/knowledge/how_to_copyright_music_in_videos_and_protect_your_original_tracks_from_unauthorized_use.php) · [What are the most effective copyright music video protection strategies for creators in 2026?](https://lionvaplus.com/knowledge/what_are_the_most_effective_copyright_music_video_protection_strategies_for_creators_in_2026.php) · [What are the exact steps to register copyright for an ebook in the United States?](https://lionvaplus.com/knowledge/what_are_the_exact_steps_to_register_copyright_for_an_ebook_in_the_united_states.php)

Canonical: https://lionvaplus.com/knowledge/who_holds_the_copyright_to_original_artwork.php
Markdown: https://lionvaplus.com/knowledge/who_holds_the_copyright_to_original_artwork.php/index.md