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Alfred Steiner (artist)

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Alfred Steiner (born 1973 in Cincinnati, Ohio) is an American artist and lawyer known for his interdisciplinary approach that integrates art, law, and technology. His work explores the intersection of creativity, intellectual property, and contemporary digital culture. Steiner's artistic practice often challenges conventional notions of intellectual property, merging legal theory with artistic expression. He advocates for artistic freedom and engages in discussions related to copyright and trademark law.

Early life and education

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Steiner grew up in Ohio with aspirations of becoming an artist and is self-taught. He studied philosophy and mathematics at Miami University, where he earned a Bachelor of Arts in Philosophy and a Bachelor of Science in Mathematics in 1995.[1] He then pursued a legal education at Harvard Law School, graduating with a Juris Doctor (J.D.) in 1998.

While studying law he created the Reasonableman comic for The Harvard Law Record, about a law student who was anything but reasonable.[2]

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Steiner specializes in intellectual property law, focusing on emerging issues in technology and creative industries. He has worked at international law firms Mauriel Kapouytian Woods, Morrison & Foerster, and Baker Botts. In 2021, he co-founded Meister & Steiner PLLC, concentrating on copyright, trademark, artificial intelligence, and art law, and digital technology transactions, particularly in blockchain. Steiner contributes to legal theory and the discourse on emerging issues in art and technology, presenting at the U.S. Patent and Trademark Office and Copyright Office roundtables on NFTs, and authoring articles and scholarly papers in his field.[3][4][5] He advises artists, collaborates with art-focused decentralized autonomous organizations (DAOs) Fingerprints DAO and Friends With Benefits, and serves on the Practicing Law Institute faculty.[6]

Dual role and advocacy

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As both a legal expert and a widely-exhibited contemporary artist, Steiner has contributed to several amicus briefs submitted to the Supreme Court of the United States and U.S. Court of Appeals for the Second Circuit. He advocates for artistic freedom and engages in discussions on copyright and trademark law with fellow artists and artist advocacy groups. Notable cases include Andy Warhol Foundation v. Goldsmith (2022) and Hermès Int'l et al. v. Rothschild (2024).[7][8][9][10][11][12]

In the Hermès case, Steiner joined a "formidable" coalition of the art collective MSCHF, digital design studio CTHDRL, artist Jack Butcher, and free-speech advocacy group Authors Alliance that submitted an amicus brief to the U.S. Court of Appeals for the Second Circuit in the Hermès v. Rothschild case.[13][14] The brief supported Mason Rothschild's appeal of the initial trademark infringement ruling regarding his MetaBirkins NFT project, which depicted fur-covered Birkin handbags. The coalition challenged the initial ruling, viewing it as a potential threat to artists' ability to comment on and critique brands through their work.[15] They emphasized that an artist's commercial intent should not negate First Amendment protections, artistic works referencing brands require nuanced legal consideration, and digital art deserves similar expressive protections as traditional art forms.[16] The case has broader and significant implications for the art world, particularly regarding artists' use of trademarked brands as subjects for commentary. The brief represented a significant intervention in the emerging legal landscape surrounding digital art, trademark law, and freedom of expression, highlighting the complex intersection of artistic creativity and commercial trademark protection. The outcome could substantially impact how courts interpret the balance between trademark protection and artistic freedom in the digital age.[17]

Steiner collaborates with Fairchain, an initiative that uses blockchain technology to generate digital certificates of title and authenticity, aiming to help artists benefit from the resale of their work.[18]

Art career

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Alfred Steiner's art explores questions of creativity, ownership, and intellectual property in the digital age, "the relationship between artistic technique and authenticity, contrivance, and artifice."[19] Described as "modern day Pop-Mannerism," reflecting a fusion of pop culture imagery with elements of Mannerist art, Steiner's pieces often engage with themes from his legal background, illuminating concepts related to copyright and the economics of the art world.[20][21] Steiner work has been shown extensively in the United States and Europe.[22][23][24] His work is included in the West Collection in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, and the Torben Sloth collection in Denmark.[25][26]

Steiner creates "amazingly" realistic watercolors and collages that reference pop culture and art history. His works employ a free-association technique to deconstruct familiar graphic forms into shapes, resulting in compositions that can represent "anything: from food, insects, toys, pills, reptiles to sexual organs and sex toys." Described as "uncanny," each piece evokes "deep recognition and familiarity."[27][28] His 2014 solo exhibition, "Likelihood of Confusion," at Joshua Liner Gallery in New York City, was particularly noted for this sense of familiarity. Steiner "creates familiar characters out of disparate objects," producing "hybrids of the stylized and the naturalistic."[29][30]

One notable piece, Ring Pop, is an enameled silver and cut glass ring resembling candy. It gained attention when it was the most expensive of the 77 pieces stolen by artist Adam Parker Smith to display in his Thanks exhibition in New York City. Steiner remarked on the incident, saying, “Any difficulty I had that he had breached a trust was overwhelmed by the humor I found in the overall project,” emphasizing his view that it was merely borrowing.[31][32]

Steiner collaborated with New York University professor Amy Whitaker and artist William Powhida to develop the contract for Powhida's Store-to-Own project, launched in 2020. This allows individuals to borrow artworks from Powhida's personal inventory for display in their homes or offices at no cost. The project addresses two key issues: providing free storage for the artist's works in environments where they will be seen and appreciated, and offering borrowers access to art that would typically command four- or five-figure prices at galleries.[33] The contract is freely available for modification and use by other artists, stipulates that borrowers are responsible for caring for, storing, and insuring the artwork. After a five-year period, ownership of the artwork transfers to the borrower, with Powhida retaining a 50% stake in any future sale. The contract also includes a 10% resale royalty clause for the artist.[34] This concept evolved into the Zero Art Fair, co-founded by Powhida and Jennifer Dalton, also with Steiner's involvement. The fair, which debuted in 2024 as part of Upstate Art Weekend in New York, expanded on the Store-to-Own model. It allows artists to give away their work for free while retaining potential future value, addressing issues of art storage and market accessibility.[35][36]

Exhibitions

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Solo exhibitions

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  • Alfred Steiner: Bleeding Afro, Gallery Poulsen, Copenhagen, Denmark, 20012[37]
  • Contrariwise, 101/EXHIBIT, Los Angeles, CA, 2013[38]
  • Likelihood of Confusion, Joshua Liner Gallery, New York, NY, 20014[39][40]
  • Alfred Steiner: Anything Goes, Gallery Poulsen, Copenhagen, Denmark, 20015[41]
  • LV DIY, Spring/Break Art Show, New York, NY, 2016[42]
  • Metes & Bounds, Gallery Protocol, Gainesville, FL, 2016[43]
  • Four Eyes, Gallery Poulsen, Copenhagen, Denmark, 2019[44]

Selected group exhibitions

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  • Day Job, The Drawing Center, New York, NY, 2011[45]
  • Summer Group Exhibition, Joshua Liner Gallery, New York, NY, 2012[46]
  • Your Favorite Artist's Favorite Artist, Joshua Liner Gallery, New York, NY, 2014[51][52][53]
  • The Armory VOLTA ART FAIR NY 2014, New York, NY, 2014[54][55]
  • Exquisite Corpse, Mass Gallery, Austin, TX, 2014, curated by Amir Fallah)[56]
  • Why I Want to Fuck Donald Trump, Joshua Liner Gallery, New York, NY, Accesso Galleria, Pietrasanta, Italy (curator), 2016[57][58][59][60]
  • Seattle Art Fair, Seattle, WA, 2017[61]
  • Ten Years, Joshua Liner Gallery, New York, NY 2018[62]
  • HOLLYWOOD DREAM BUBBLE: Ed Ruscha’s Influence In Los Angeles And Beyond The Hole, Los Angeles, CA, 2024[63][64][65]

Publications

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  • A Few Observations on Copyright and Art, Landslide Magazine, American Bar Association Section of Intellectual Property Law, January February 2013[66]
  • The Paper It's Printed On: NFTs, Ownership and Conceptual Art, Social Science Research Network Electronic Journal, January 1, 2021, doi:10.2139/j.ssrn.3997352
  • Bored Apes & Monkey Selfies: Copyright & PFP NFTs, 2022, New York State Bar Association[67]
  • Art & NFTs at Consensus 2022, June 2022[68]
  • Fidenza Fugazi?: NFTs and Trademark Prosecution, May 12, 2024[69]

Publications contributor

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  • ABC's ABCOA, Initiator: Micheál O'Connell, ABC [Artists’ Books Cooperative], 2021[70]
  • The Sm;)e Book, DB Burkemam, Rich Browd, Blurring Books, Brooklyn, NY, 2021, ISBN 978-1736156209[71]
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References

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  1. ^ "College of Creative Arts Advisory Board". miamioh.edu. Miami University. Retrieved 12 December 2024.
  2. ^ "Alfred "Dave" Steiner: From law school to visual artist". Harvard Law Record. October 4, 1996. Retrieved 10 December 2024.
  3. ^ "Committee on Digital Assets and Currency". nysba.org. NY State Bar Association. Retrieved 10 December 2024.
  4. ^ "Roundtable: Trademarks and non-fungible tokens". uspto.gov. US Patent and Trademark Office. Retrieved 12 December 2024.
  5. ^ "Author Page, Alfred 'Dave' Steiner". papers.ssrn.com. Social Science Research Network. Retrieved 12 December 2024.
  6. ^ "Alfred David Steiner, Meister & Steiner PLLC". pli.edu. Practising Law Institute. Retrieved 15 October 2024.
  7. ^ "No. 21-869 IN THE Supreme Court of the United States d ANDY WARHOL FOUNDATION FOR THE VISUAL ARTS, INC., Petitioner, —v.— LYNN GOLDSMITH and LYNN GOLDSMITH, LTD., Respondents. ON WRIT OF CERTIORARI TO THE UNITED STATES COURT OF APPEALS FOR THE SECOND CIRCUIT BRIEF OF ARTISTS AS AMICI CURIAE SUPPORTING PETITIONER" (PDF). supremecourt.gov. Supreme Court of the United States. Retrieved 5 September 2024.
  8. ^ Moynihan, Colin (March 1, 2023). "Why Warhol Images Are Making Museums Nervous". New York Times. Retrieved 21 November 2024.
  9. ^ "MSCHF et al Amicus 11 13 2023 Final" (PDF). authorsalliance.org. Authors Alliance. Retrieved 21 November 2024.
  10. ^ Gopnik, Blake (February 24, 2023). "A misguided jury failed to see the art in Mason Rothschild's MetaBirkins". Washington Post. Retrieved 11 December 2024.
  11. ^ Cascone, Sarah (May 18, 2023). "In a Landmark Ruling Against the Andy Warhol Foundation, the Supreme Court Has Sided With Photographer Lynn Goldsmith". Art Net. Retrieved 12 December 2024.
  12. ^ Veltman, Chloe (May 18, 2023). "Supreme Court sides against Andy Warhol Foundation in copyright infringement case". National Public Radio. Retrieved 12 December 2024.
  13. ^ Rossow, Andrew (November 14, 2023). "Artists Unite: The Amicus Brief's Role in the MetaBirkins Legal Battle". NFT Now. Retrieved 14 December 2024.
  14. ^ Kinsella, Eileen (November 14, 2023). "Art Collective MSCHF Signs Onto Amicus Brief Championing Satirical NFTs as a Free Speech Issue". Art Net. Retrieved 21 November 2024.
  15. ^ Feitelberg, Rosemary (March 19, 2024). "Hermès' and Mason Rothschild's Legal Battle Over 'MetaBirkins' NFTs Continues". WWD Women's Wear Daily. Retrieved 11 December 2024.
  16. ^ "Hermès v. Rothschild: A Timeline of a Case Over Trademarks, NFTs". The Fashion Law Media. October 23, 2024. Retrieved 21 November 2024.
  17. ^ Small, Zachary (February 8, 2023). "Hermès Wins MetaBirkins Lawsuit; Jurors Not Convinced NFTs Are Art". New York Times. Retrieved 21 November 2024.
  18. ^ Pogrebin, Robin (March 23, 2022). "Tech Start-Up Aims to Get Artists Royalties for Resale". New York Times. Retrieved 21 November 2024.
  19. ^ "Open Sessions 5". drawingcenter.org. The Drawing Center. Retrieved 11 December 2024.
  20. ^ Vartanian, Hrag (January 12, 2012). "Is Alfred Steiner's "Erased Schulnik (Diptych)" Copyright Infringement?". Hyperallergic. Retrieved 11 December 2024.
  21. ^ "Painter Alfred Steiner Mixes Unseemly Images with Pop Culture Icons". Hi Frustose. June 22, 2015. Retrieved 21 November 2024.
  22. ^ Binlot, Ann (December 7, 2015). "Art Basel In Miami Beach 2015: The Parties That Rocked Miami Art Week". Forbes. Retrieved 12 December 2024.
  23. ^ McGauley, Joe (May 13, 2014). "Peek Inside Artist Alfred Steiner's Mesmerizing Studio". Thrillist. Retrieved 12 December 2024.
  24. ^ "Alfred Steiner". accessogalleria.com. Accesso Galleria. Retrieved 12 December 2024.
  25. ^ "West Collection, Alfred Steiner". westcollection.org. West Collection. Retrieved 12 December 2024.
  26. ^ "Torben Sloth". artland.com. Art Land. Retrieved 12 December 2024.
  27. ^ "Studio Visits: Alfred Steiner – "Likelihood of Confusion" @ Joshua Liner". Arrested Motion. October 15, 2014. Retrieved 27 June 2024.
  28. ^ Graver, David (31 October 2014). "Iconic logos reconstructed through found imagery at Joshua Liner Gallery". coolhunting.com. Cool Hunting. Retrieved 21 November 2024.
  29. ^ Smith, Andy (February 8, 2019). "The Painted Arrangements of Alfred Steiner". Hi Fructose Magazine. Retrieved 11 December 2024.
  30. ^ "Alfred Steiner". gallerypoulsen.com/. Gallery Poulsen. February 8, 2019.
  31. ^ Ryzik, Melena (March 28, 2013). "Sticky Fingers Make the Show". New York Times. Retrieved 23 June 2024.
  32. ^ Boucher, Brian (March 13, 2013). "Steal This Artwork: Adam Parker Smith Filches a Show". Art in America. Retrieved 27 June 2024.
  33. ^ Dafoe, Taylor (February 28, 2020). "Artist William Powhida Doesn't Have Room to Store All His Work—So He Wants You to Borrow It, for Free". Art Net. Retrieved 12 December 2024.
  34. ^ "Store to Own". sites.google.com/view/store-to-own. William Powhida. Retrieved 13 December 2024.
  35. ^ Schrader, Adam (May 17, 2024). "Free to a Good Home: Artists Launch a New Fair to Clear Unsold Works From Their Studios". Art Net. Retrieved 13 December 2024.
  36. ^ "About". zeroartfair.com. Zero Art Fair 2024. Retrieved 13 December 2024.
  37. ^ "Alfred Steiner, Bleeding Afro". gallerypoulsen.com. Gallery Poulsen. Retrieved 10 December 2024.
  38. ^ "Alfred Steiner". 101exhibit.com. 101EXHIBIT. Retrieved 10 December 2024.
  39. ^ Graver, David (31 October 2014). "Alfred Steiner's "Likelihood of Confusion" Exhibition". Cool Hunting. Retrieved 10 December 2024.
  40. ^ "Openings: Alfred Steiner – "Likelihood of Confusion" @ Joshua Liner". arrestedmotion.com. Arrested Motion LTD. Retrieved 27 June 2024.
  41. ^ "Alfred Steiner, Bleeding Afro". mutualart.com. MutualArt. Retrieved 10 September 2024.
  42. ^ Munro, Cait (March 1, 2016). "These 5 Inspired Installations Make Spring/Break Art Show Unforgettable". Art Net. Retrieved 12 December 2024.
  43. ^ "Alfred Steiner: Metes and Bounds". artfacts.net. Art Facts. Retrieved 12 December 2024.
  44. ^ "Four Eyes". artfacts.net. Artfacts. Retrieved 12 December 2024.
  45. ^ Morris, Bill (March 23, 2011). "Is Copyright a Guardian Angel or a Killer of Creativity? A Conversation with Alfred Steiner". The Million. Retrieved 11 December 2024.
  46. ^ "Openings: "Summer Group Exhibition" @ Joshua Liner Gallery". Arrested Motion LTD. August 7, 2012. Retrieved 27 June 2024.
  47. ^ "Gʉilty / (NOT) Guilty". nortemaar.org. Norte Maar. Retrieved 10 December 2024.
  48. ^ Hassan, Sarah (January 1, 2012). "Guilty/(NOT) Guilty at Norte Maar, New York". Artwrit. Retrieved 10 December 2024.
  49. ^ Vartanian, Hrag (January 11, 2012). "When Paintings Are Easily Reproduced Avatar". Hyperallergic. Retrieved 11 December 2024.
  50. ^ Day, Karen (December 20, 2011). "Gʉilty / (NOT) Guilty". Cool Hunting. Retrieved 12 December 2024.
  51. ^ "Your Favorite Artist's Favorite Artist". mutualart.com. Mutual Art. Retrieved 12 December 2024.
  52. ^ Hess, Hugo (November 18, 2014). "Joshua Liner's Artist Selection". Wide Walls. Retrieved 12 December 2024.
  53. ^ Corbett, Rachel (November 20, 2014). "Tonight in the Art World: 5 Shows to See". New York Magazine. Retrieved 12 December 2024.
  54. ^ Sutton, Benjamin (March 7, 2014). "The Imagination Runs Wild at VOLTA NY 2014". Artnet. Retrieved 11 December 2024.
  55. ^ Samson, Jonah (March 7, 2014). "Volta Art Fair 2014 Three must-see booths at this year's New York City show". Cool Hunting. Retrieved 11 December 2024.
  56. ^ "EXHIBITION Exquisite Corpse". aptglobal.org. Artist Pension Trust. Retrieved 11 December 2024.
  57. ^ Brooks, Katherine (October 14, 2016). "'Why I Want To F**k Donald Trump' Reflects The Very Real Anger Surrounding This Election". Huffington Post. Retrieved 11 December 2024.
  58. ^ Davis, Ben (November 7, 2016). "This Is the Art That Mattered From the 2016 Presidential Election". artnet. Retrieved 11 December 2024.
  59. ^ "Alfred Steiner". accessogalleria.com. Accesso Galleria. Retrieved 11 December 2024.
  60. ^ "Exhibition Why I Want to Fuck Donald Trump". ArtRabbit. Retrieved 11 December 2024.
  61. ^ Durón, Maximilíano (August 3, 2017). "Preview the 2017 Seattle Art Fair". Art News. Retrieved 12 December 2024.
  62. ^ "Ten Years". Art Week. January 6, 2018. Retrieved 10 December 2024.
  63. ^ Ghassemitari, Shawn (May 21, 2024). "The Hole LA Honors the Legacy of Ed Ruscha in Monumental Group Exhibition". Hype Beast. Retrieved 12 December 2024.
  64. ^ Jessica Gallucci and Dani Tull. "Hollywood Dream Bubble: Ed Ruscha's Influence in Los Angeles and Beyond". Mutual Art. Retrieved 12 December 2024.
  65. ^ Miller, Isabella (May 22, 2024). "HOLLYWOOD DREAM BUBBLE: Ed Ruscha's Influence in Los Angeles and Beyond at The Hole". Contemporary Art Review LA. Retrieved 12 December 2024.
  66. ^ Steiner, Alfred. "A Few Observations on Copyright and Art". papers.ssrn.com. Landslide: A Publication of the ABA Section of Intellectual Property Law, Elsvier SSRN. SSRN 4113293. Retrieved 16 December 2024.
  67. ^ Steiner, Alfred David (December 16, 2022). "Bored Apes and Monkey Selfies: Copyright and PFP NFTs". New York State Bar Association. Retrieved 10 December 2024.
  68. ^ Steiner, Alfred (June 1, 2022). "Art & NFTs at Consensus 2022". Whitehot Magazine of Contemporary Art. Retrieved 11 December 2024.
  69. ^ Steiner, Alfred (12 May 2024). "Fidenza Fugazi?: NFTs and Trademark Prosecution". papers.ssrn.com. Elsvier SSRN. SSRN 4825660. Retrieved 16 December 2024.
  70. ^ "ABC's ABCOA". edcat.net. ABC Artists’ Books Cooperative. Retrieved 11 December 2024.
  71. ^ Bettinelli, Mariana (3 November 2020). "The Sm;)e Book Celebrates the Smiley Face". trendland.com. Trendland. Retrieved 11 December 2024.
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