N.Y. Developer Must Pay $6.75 Million for Destroying Graffiti

A Queens, New York, developer must pay graffiti artists $6.75 million under the Visual Artists Rights Act for intentionally painting over their work, even though the art was meant to be temporary, the Second Circuit affirmed Thursday.

The graffiti was protected under the Visual Artists Rights Act even though it wasn’t intended to be permanent, the court said.

A group of graffiti artists displayed their work at a “series of dilapidated warehouse buildings” in Long Island City. According to the court, “creative destruction” was a feature of the works; some of the art was permanent, but other art “had a ...