March 22nd 2024.
A legal battle between two Black artists has recently come to light, revealing a bitter dispute over alleged copying and conspiracy theories. Deborah Roberts and Lynthia Edwards, both known for their similar styles, have been at odds over the origin of their artwork. The tension between the two artists escalated on March 11th when Edwards filed a counterclaim against Roberts for defamation. This came after Roberts had initially filed a lawsuit against Edwards and her gallery, accusing them of copying her work.
While both artists have been influenced by renowned Black collage artist Romare Bearden and German Dada collage artist Hannah Höch, Edwards argues that their works only share a superficial similarity. She believes that her art is deeply rooted in her upbringing as a Black girl in the South. Despite this, Roberts claims that Edwards was enlisted by her gallery to replicate her artwork. However, Edwards denies these allegations and accuses Roberts of monitoring her art practice through a private investigator.
Edwards's counterclaim calls out Roberts for her alleged use of social media and private messages to spread false conspiracy theories. She also accuses Roberts of preventing her from showcasing her work at major events like Expo Chicago and the Park Avenue Armory Show. Edwards's lawyers state that Roberts has even gone as far as claiming that Edwards copied her use of black backgrounds in her work, which Roberts claims to have started during the COVID pandemic. They provide evidence of a 2019 Instagram post by a New York gallerist showing one of Edwards's works with a black background.
In addition to Edwards's lawsuit, New York gallerist Stephen Friedman has also been listed as a third-party defendant for allegedly helping Roberts spread her "big lie". According to Edwards, Friedman informed her in 2022 that her rival was gaining ground in the market. Her counterclaim also includes a transcript of a voicemail that Roberts left for the gallery owner, threatening to go public with her copyright claims against Edwards.
Roberts has also been accused of using derogatory language to refer to Edwards in public and private messages. She is said to have called Edwards a "h*e" and a "bi*ch who's copying me". Roberts is also accused of recruiting popular artist Amy Sherald to defame Edwards. Sherald reportedly commented on an Instagram post celebrating Edwards's art, stating that it was a "straight up Deborah Roberts copy". In response, Roberts claimed that the gallery should be helping Edwards develop her own voice instead of copying her work.
Despite the ongoing legal battle, Roberts's artwork is currently on display at the Brooklyn Museum as part of Swizz Beatz and Alicia Keys's "GIANTS" exhibit. The couple's Dean Collection has featured over 100 major artworks by Black American, African, and African diasporic artists. As this dispute continues, it serves as a reminder of the importance of respecting artists' originality and creativity.
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