ART THEFT—especially in the form of digital image theft—is a widespread issue among artists, particularly those who share their work online. While exact statistics vary depending on the study and definitions used, here are some key insights:
A 2020 survey by Creative Future indicated that more than 70% of visual artists had experienced some form of copyright infringement.
A 2022 survey by Design Bundles found that around 65% of digital artists reported having their work stolen or used without permission online.
For professional artists, who post on social media , art theft rates are estimated up to 75%, depending on the popularity of the artist.
THE MOST COMMON FORMS OF ART THEFT
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Reposting without credit
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Using artwork on merchandise (shirts, phone cases, NFTs, etc.) without permission
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Tracing or slight alterations of original work
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AI scraping for dataset training without consent (increasingly relevant)
WHY IT’S HARD TO TRACK
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Many artists don’t find out their work has been stolen unless a fan notifies them.
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Infringement can happen in countries where enforcement is difficult or laws differ.
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Some theft is subtle—such as altered images, partial usage, or AI-generated variants.
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Artists can’t entirely prevent theft—especially online—but they can reduce risk and take steps to protect their work.