Posts by Art Dom

Donald Trump introduced customs tariffs that turned the logic of shipping paintings to the US upside down. Since August 29, 2025, a package of any value is subject to mandatory declaration, and the recipient pays duty upon delivery. Previously, gifts, personal items, and commercial shipments valued up to $800 crossed the border duty-free; now that threshold has been eliminated, and only a simplified regime with a fixed fee remains for mail up to $100. For an artist from Ukraine, this isn't an abstract Bloomberg headline — it's a direct hit to the cost of doing business. A client from Brooklyn who ordered a $250 watercolor now gets a DHL receipt with duty and a broker fee, and calls with questions. Let's break down what actually changed, who pays for what, and how to arrange a shipment so it doesn't get stuck in New York for three weeks.

Painting copies have existed for as long as the originals themselves. Copying is even considered a peculiar sign of success: after all, bad paintings wouldn't be copied. According to historical research, as far back as the Renaissance, from the 14th to the 17th centuries, artists used the camera obscura—the ancestor of the photographic camera. This device allowed an image to be projected onto a surface, much like a projector—leaving the artist to simply reproduce it with paints. Since then, the number of ways to create a copy of a painting has only increased. Let's explore how to distinguish an original painting from a fake, the differences between a replica, a copy, and an artist's repetition, and why it's worth establishing authorship before purchasing—especially since a preliminary consultation at ArtDom is available for free.

The global art market is showing signs of recovery in 2026. According to an ArtTactic report, sales at Christie's, Sotheby's, and Phillips grew by 70% year-on-year in the first half of 2026, reaching $6.8 billion. The combined value of the ten most expensive works sold at auction this year reached $767.7 million. The ranking is dominated by paintings by American and European 20th-century artists, along with two sculptures — by Picasso and Brancusi. Most of the records were set within a single week in May, when the major sales took place in New York at Christie's and Sotheby's, together totaling nearly $2.5 billion.

Confirming the authorship of a painting is one of the most sought-after services in the field of art. Owners of artworks often face situations where the work has the artist's signature, but documents confirming its origin are missing. In such cases, there is a need to conduct an attribution expertise. Authorship confirmation may be needed when selling a work, processing an inheritance, insuring, participating in exhibitions, or preparing documents for international transportation, especially if the export of paintings from Ukraine is planned. It is important to understand that an assumption about authorship and an official expert opinion are different things. Only professional research allows establishing the degree of probability that the work belongs to a specific author and processing the corresponding documents. Distinguishing a copy from an original is a very difficult task even for an experienced specialist. For every expert, this is a serious responsibility, since their conclusions involve professional reputation and legal consequences. That is why the results of the research are formalized in the form of a certificate of authenticity of the painting or an attribution opinion.

The era of generative neural networks has radically changed the art industry. Just a few years ago, an artist could calmly publish their works on social networks without fear that someone would reproduce their unique style in a couple of minutes. Today the situation is different: it is enough to upload a dozen images into an artificial intelligence system, and it will learn to create works "in the manner" of any author. This creates serious risks for artists: loss of uniqueness, decrease in the value of works, and reputational problems. Modern image generation technologies can not only copy a specific painting but also imitate an entire artistic style — the manner of brushstroke, color palette, and favorite subjects of the author. Copyright protection in these conditions becomes not a formality but a necessity. High-quality protection directly affects the purchase of paintings and the cost of works. Collectors are increasingly asking about the availability of certificates of authenticity, copyright registration, and other confirmations of uniqueness. In this article, we will examine what protection methods are available to artists today and how to preserve your artistic style in the era of AI.

The international art market continues to develop actively, and Ukrainian artists are increasingly selling their works outside the country. In 2026, international art logistics has undergone a number of changes that affect the rules of registration, customs procedures, and the cost of transportation. It is especially important to consider the new requirements for artists, galleries, collectors, and art dealers who regularly carry out painting delivery abroad . The speed of customs clearance and the safety of the artwork depend on the correct preparation of documents and the choice of shipping method. Today, the main destinations for the export of Ukrainian art remain the United States, the countries of the European Union, and the states of the Middle East.

Legal literacy is just as much a tool for a modern artist's success as high-quality brushes, canvases, or paints. In this article, we have gathered the most popular legal documents that professional artists need to reliably protect their rights, freedoms, and financial interests. All templates have been prepared by experts, drawing on current trends in the contemporary art market and the real needs of both creators and collectors or art dealers. Our materials and every standard contract with an artist are drafted fully in accordance with the provisions of the Civil Code of Ukraine, the specialized Law of Ukraine "On Copyright and Related Rights," as well as key norms of international law (in particular, the Berne Convention).

Many artists, collectors, and owners of artworks face the need to prepare documents for the international transportation of their works. Regardless of whether the painting is being sold, presented at an exhibition, or being moved to another country, one of the mandatory stages becomes the expertise procedure.

Many artists focus exclusively on creativity, forgetting about an important tool for professional promotion — the resume. Yet a well-composed CV opens doors to galleries, helps to participate in exhibitions, and significantly influences the purchase of paintings by collectors around the world.

An artist's signature is not just a small element on the canvas, but an important part of the artwork. It helps to identify the author, confirms the origin of the work, and shapes the artist's professional image in the art market. For collectors, galleries, and buyers, the signature is often the first sign that the work has established authorship.