Subject: Inquiry on Image Rights for a Research-Based Artistic Project
(Dear Community Members - I am posting this for a colleague regarding a project she is working on.)
My name is Rocio Gomez, a Peruvian visual artist. I'm reaching out for guidance regarding the use of archival images in a project I'm developing, which may involve artworks still under copyright (artists, estates, publishers, galleries, photographers).
About the project:
~Focuses on archival images of feminist artworks from the 1970s (Eastern Europe, Latin America, U.S.)
~Uses reproductions found in books, magazines, and exhibition catalogues
~Reworks images through selection, material translation, and recomposition to create new, critical interpretations
~Emphasizes a non-commercial, research-based, and pedagogical/documentary approach
~The project does not replicate or compete with the original works, but aims to produce transformative readings of them
All source credits and a transparent statement of intent will be included.
I understand image rights are complex and vary by context, even where "fair use" might apply.
Your insight would be very valuable on:
1. How best to approach image rights in this kind of appropriation-driven research project.
2. Institutional best practices for handling copyrighted reproductions.
3. Possible presentation strategies that acknowledge copyright tensions while preserving the project's critical aims.
I am happy to share more details or examples if helpful. Here is a link to my instagram.
Warm regards,
Rocio Gomez