Berkeley Art, Law, and Finance Project: Legal Personhood for Artwork
Thursday, December 18, 2025 @ 10:00 am - 11:00 am
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Join Associate Professor Sergio Alberto Gramitto Ricci (Hofstra University Maurice A. Deane School of Law) and Professor Carliss N. Chatman (SMU Dedman School of Law) in conversation with Delia Violante, Founding Director of the Berkeley Art, Law, and Finance Project, for a groundbreaking discussion on whether artworks should possess legal rights independent of their creators and owners.
Could artworks themselves have legal standing? This provocative question drives our panel’s exploration of Professor Gramitto Ricci’s paper “Legal Personhood for Artwork” and its innovative framework. The discussion will address critical issues including the exploitation of indigenous cultural heritage and the recognition of art’s fundamental role in society.
This paradigm shift would transform art law—centering legal protection on artworks themselves rather than solely on artists or collectors—and could fundamentally reshape how we safeguard cultural heritage in the 21st century.
These events are open only to UC Berkeley Law students, faculty, and staff, unless otherwise noted.
Events are wheelchair accessible. For disability-related accommodations, contact the organizer of the event. Advance notice is kindly requested.
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