The US Copyright Office issues guidelines on AI, art dealers worry that tariffs may affect sales, and renowned science-fiction illustrator Chris Moore passes away. Read more in Post Rendered’s news roundup for February 2025.
The US Copyright Office issues guidelines regarding AI content
ArtNews reported that the US Copyright Office has stated that works created solely by artificial intelligence are not protected under the country’s copyright laws.
Citations for the decision included the example of a Gemini-generated cat, wherein the engine “ignored select prompt instructions and added elements of its own, including the cat’s ‘incongruous human hand’.” Jackson Pollock’s drip works were contrasted against this, citing that while the technique did not allow for direct control of the paint, Pollock “controlled the choice of colors, number of layers, depth of texture, placement of each addition to the overall composition — and used his own body movements to execute each of these choices.”
The office’s report ended with the warning, “In theory, AI systems could someday allow users to exert so much control over how their expression is reflected in an output that the system’s contribution would become rote or mechanical.”
Proposed tariffs could affect the art market
Tariffs implemented by the United States, scheduled to start in March of this year, may cause major issues for the art market, ArtNews reported.
In the outlet’s On Balance newsletter, several art retailers were quoted regarding uncertainty surrounding the tariffs, and how they may affect art sales. Phillip Hoffman, founder and CEO of the Fine Art Group, stated, “If you’re spending 10 million on a work of art and you’re paying $1 million or $2 million, or even $2.5 million in tariffs because it was imported, you’d say, ‘No way. Forget it. It’s a write-off of $2.5 million. I can’t do that. I’ll go for real estate, or I’ll go for stocks and shares.” Claudia Albertini, co-director of the Hong Kong Gallery association, also expressed concern, stating that while tariffs are not currently attached to art sales, they would be preparing for the possibility. Cube Asia’s Wendy Xu was less pessimistic, stating that while they would monitor the situation, they were not anticipating tariffs to have much of an economic impact.
Smaller galleries may be at a greater disadvantage, however. Brookings Institute senior fellow Wendy Edleberg warned, “They’re going to have less bargaining power with their customers, and so they’re going to be able to do less of a good job of passing along higher prices, which just means if they want customers to still buy their products, they may well have to really eat the tariff on their own. That’s going to make it a lot less profitable to be in business.”
Chris Moore, Heavy Metal Magazine cover artist, passes away
DownTheTubes reported that renowned science-fiction illustrator Chris Moore passed away this month at the age of 78.
Moore had his work featured on many prominent publications, including the novels of Phillip K. Dick and Vernor Vinge, as well as for major franchises and publications, including Star Trek and Heavy Metal Magazine. Renowned artist Michael Whelan reflected, “His was a singular talent, such a clear eyed precision and sparkling beauty in his work! It never failed to stop me in my tracks wherever I encountered it, be it on a book cover or in its original form in a show. Such a sad loss; my condolences to his family.”
Though currently out of print, you can still find Stephen Gallagher’s The Art of Chris Moore available for purchase here.
Post Rendered Recommends: Katsuya Terada exhibition at GR2
Time Extension published their interview with Japanese illustrator Katsuya Terada earlier this month. Terada’s work has been featured extensively in the video games, having created the covers for Prince of Persia (Super Famicom) and Virtua Fighter Remix, among many others.
Terada has also just completed his exhibition at the GR2 Gallery. You can view the pieces available for purchase from the gallery here.