A Los Angeles makeup artist is suing Richard Prince and Gagosian Gallery for infringement of her copyright on a self-portrait that she posted on Instagram.
Ashley Salazar, whose professional name is Mynxii White (and is not to be confused with “16 and Pregnant” teen mother Ashley Salazar) has brought suit in the US District Court of the Central District of California over a two-year old photograph of makeup artist Mynxii White. The suit was filed June 15 and was first reported by the Art Newspaper. Salazar has requested that the case be tried by jury and points out in the complaint that she registered the image for copyright.
In the photo, White poses with her blond and purple locks flowing, a Fudgesicle case on her phone, and meme-worthy cats by her side. Prince comments on the photograph in his trademark fashion: “Angel Investors 50/50 InTheDark Wonderful. What do Zu want Zu Zu. Big tire event.”
Prince is currently embroiled in three copyright infringement suits; he was recently slapped with a complaint by Dennis Morris over a photo of Sex Pistols bass player Sid Vicious, and photographer Donald Graham recently sued him over a photo of a Rastafarian that Prince showed at Gagosian Gallery.
Prince filed this month to dismiss the case and have it tried in the Southern District of New York. Representing Salazar are Douglas A. Linde and Erica A. Gonzalez of the Linde Law Firm, of Los Angeles. Joshua Schiller of New York firm Boies, Schiller & Flexner represents Prince; Dontzin Nagy & Fleissig, of New York, represent Gagosian, with whom Prince split this summer.
artnet News reached out to Prince’s lawyers for comment, but did not receive an immediate response.