Chubb Advises Artist Involvement in Restoration

In response to the Visual Artists Rights Act of 1990 (“VARA”), the Chubb Group of Insurance Companies has published a white paper titled “Conservation of the Works of Living Artists” which advises consultation with living artists during the restoration of their artwork. VARA grants an artist the right to denounce a work of visual art that is distorted, destroyed, mutilated, or otherwise modified; often restoration attempts may alter or damage an artwork, leading an artist to disclaim the work and therefore eliminate any market value in the piece. According to PR Newswire, while the owner of such a work may be reimbursed through insurance, an insurer necessarily hopes to protect itself from a total loss. Involving the artist in the conservation of their work, by performing the restoration themselves or approving a plan through conservators, may help to reduce the risk of an artist disclaiming the work as a result of the restoration.

More via PR Newswire.