What is the Visual Artists Rights Act of 1990?

The Visual Artists Rights Act (VARA) of 1990 is a federal law that is primarily intended to protect the moral rights of visual artists. Its purpose is to protect works of fine art from any intentional distortion, mutilation, or modification that is prejudicial to the artist’s honor or reputation. VARA applies only to works of fine art, and focuses on the moral rights of an artist in the artwork. It grants artists the right to prevent any such alteration, distortion, or mutilation to their art that would be prejudicial to their honor or reputation. In Oklahoma, the law applies to works of fine art in the same manner as in other states – it is intended to protect the moral rights of the artist. The artist must have the right to prevent or to recover damages for any intentional or grossly negligent destruction, distortion, mutilation, or other modification of his or her work which would be prejudicial to his or her honor or reputation. VARA does not however, provide full protection against any kind of alteration or destruction of a work of art, as the artist must prove that any such alteration was “prejudicial to his or her honor or reputation.” VARA also does not provide protection against works of art that are destroyed due to natural disasters.

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What is the Visual Artists Rights Act of 1990?

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