Artist says a Canadian store is breaking the law by selling sculptures all over North America that look like theirs
An artist in the United States is suing the Canadian clothing store Aritzia over the hot pink sculptures that have been in the store’s window displays across North America this spring.
The artist said that the Canadian chain is copying his work by making sculptures that are “identical” to the ones he has been making for over 40 years.
“I was blown away. Why? Why not get in touch? … It hurt, to tell the truth, “The owner of Tangle Creations, Richard X. Zawitz, said this.
In a lawsuit he filed in California, where he lives, Zawitz says that Aritzia’s window displays are a “significant” violation of his copyright, both online and in person. He said that the popular, mid-priced women’s clothing store with its headquarters in Vancouver has shown the sculptures in cities as far away as New York, Los Angeles, and Las Vegas.
He said that earlier this year, friends told him about the display at Aritzia.
In an interview, he said, “My phone blew up.”
“People from all over the country, even Canada, were sending me texts saying, “Wow, your sculptures are in Aritzia. Wow, that’s great. They look very nice”… I was astounded, but boy, they look good,” he continued.
“The next day, I was going to L.A., so I went to the grove, and those sculptures were in the window.”
In a written statement to CBC, an Aritzia representative said that the store is looking into the matter.
“These sculptures were made by Aritzia’s in-house designers, whose goal is to give customers a place to shop that makes them want to be wealthy. Boutique visual displays are only up for a limited time and have been taken down as usual “the person speaking up said.
The sculpture TikTok gets 8.5 million view
People have also talked about the sculptures on the app TikTok. Some employees made videos of themselves trying to put the pieces together, which looked like pink macaroni, and getting the sculptures into the window. Some of the people who replied asked if Aritzia would let them take the sculptures home when she was done with them.
More than 8.5 million people have watched one video.
In his lawsuit, Zawitz said that his large Tangle sculptures and small Tangle toys are made of curved pieces that fit together and can be twisted and bent to change the shape. He said that Aritzia’s art is made up of similar pieces that fit together and have the same chrome finish and hot pink color as the “palm metallic pink” option in his online store.
The lawsuit that was filed this month said, “The striking similarities between the Infringing Sculptures and the TANGLE Sculptures indicate that [Aritzia] did their infringing acts intentionally, willfully, and maliciously, without regard to [Zawitzproprietary ]’s rights in the TANGLE Copyright Registrations.”
Zawitz said he would have been willing to work with the store or have his name in the window, but they couldn’t come to an agreement to solve the problem without going to court.
“We found them to be quite unwilling and unwilling to give in. So this was the next step, “he said.
“If you don’t protect what you’ve made as an artist, it will get stolen.”
Zawitz said he has worked with people in the fashion industry before.
Michael Jackson wore a version of the art in L’Uomo Vogue, or Vogue Italia for men, as part of a spread to mark the 25th anniversary of his “Thriller” album. ThrillerAlbum that year. J.W. Anderson, a British fashion designer, worked with Zawitz to make the metal handles for his Spring 2016 line.
Zawitz said of Aritzia, “They really missed a golden chance.”
The claim of copyright hasn’t been proven, and Aritzia hasn’t responded in court.
Zawitz wants Aritzia to pay him up to $30,000 in damages for each alleged violation of his copyright.
WATCH | Aritzia wants to be famous in the U.S.: