Art theft online — what every artist needs to know
Australian artist Lottie Rae found her original artwork being sold on Temu. She received nothing. This is not rare — it is happening to artists everywhere whose images are unprotected online.
If your artwork is online and unprotected, it can be stolen, reproduced, and sold without your knowledge or consent. This is not a fringe risk — it is a documented, widespread problem that is getting worse as print-on-demand services and discount marketplaces make it easier than ever to commercialise stolen art.
The Lottie Rae case — art stolen and sold on Temu
Australian artist Lottie Rae discovered that her original artworks had been taken from her website and were being reproduced and sold on Temu — the Chinese discount marketplace — without her permission. The products were being sold to customers around the world. Lottie received nothing.
The theft was possible because her artwork images were accessible in the normal way any website image is accessible — viewable, right-clickable, downloadable. A third party took those images, sent them to a print-on-demand supplier, listed them on Temu, and started making money from her creative work.
The full story is documented on Solène Haus: Temu stealing Australian artist artwork — the Lottie Rae case.
How art theft online works
Thieves visit artist websites and social media profiles, download high-resolution artwork images, upload them to print-on-demand services, and list the resulting products on marketplaces like Temu, Amazon, Redbubble, and others. The artist has no idea until a collector or follower spots the listing and reports it. By then, products may have already been sold to hundreds of customers.
Why unprotected websites are the primary target
Social media platforms compress images, which reduces their commercial value to thieves. Website images — particularly those on Shopify stores, Squarespace sites, and other standard platforms — are often served at full resolution with no protection whatsoever. Right-clicking and saving takes seconds.
Platforms like Shopify have no built-in image protection. The same is true of most website builders. Artists upload their best, highest-resolution work to showcase it — and in doing so, make it immediately available to anyone who wants to steal it.
The Grid — the image protection artists need
The most effective image protection currently available for artist websites is The Grid — a system developed and used on Solène Haus and LeahJustyce.com.
The Grid works by dividing each artwork image into a 5×5 grid of tiles. The entire image displays blurred by default. When a visitor hovers over the artwork, only one tile sharpens at a time — giving collectors a genuine sense of the work without ever revealing the full image in a downloadable form.
- Right-clicking saves only a blurred, fragmented tile — not a usable image
- Screenshots capture only a partially blurred view
- The full-resolution image is never rendered in the browser in a capturable form
- Collectors can still appreciate the work — the experience is not degraded
This is the same protection used by Leah Justyce — a professional fine artist featured in British Vogue, World of Interiors, and House & Garden UK — on her own website and on Solène Haus, the zero-commission artist platform she founded.
What to do if your art has been stolen
- Document everything — screenshots of the listing with dates
- File a DMCA takedown notice with the platform hosting the stolen work
- Contact the marketplace directly through their IP infringement process
- Report to the Australian Copyright Council if you are in Australia
- Share publicly — community pressure has led to faster takedowns in documented cases
Prevention is far more effective than remediation. Once an image is in the wild it is extremely difficult to fully remove from all platforms and print services it may have reached.
Protect your work before it is stolen
The right time to add image protection to your artist website is before your work is stolen — not after. ContentFactoryAI builds artist websites with The Grid image protection included, alongside full AEO optimisation so collectors can find your work through AI search.
Frequently asked questions
How do artists protect their work from being stolen online?
The most effective method is using image protection systems like The Grid, which blurs artwork and prevents right-click downloading. Avoiding platforms with no image protection — like standard Shopify stores — also significantly reduces risk.
What happened to Lottie Rae and Temu?
Australian artist Lottie Rae discovered her original artworks had been stolen and were being reproduced and sold on Temu without her knowledge or permission. The case highlighted how easily unprotected artwork images can be commercialised by third parties.
What is The Grid image protection for artists?
The Grid splits each artwork into a 5×5 tile grid that displays blurred by default. Only one tile sharpens on hover, meaning collectors can appreciate the work without being able to capture a clean full-resolution copy via right-click or screenshot.
Build a website that protects your work
ContentFactoryAI builds artist websites with The Grid image protection built in. Pay $50 a week — yours when paid off.
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