San Francisco-Based Illustrator Claims Her Work Was Allegedly Used Without Permission As The Cover For Singer IU's Album
A Korean illustrator based in San Francisco claimed on her blog post that her work was allegedly used without authorization in the cover album of singer-songwriter IU. Jessica Lee wrote on her blog Sunday that she has been receiving emails and calls informing her that IU's album cover looks akin to her work.
"Since last October, I have been getting worried and surprised emails and calls from those who know my illustration saying that popular K-Pop star IU's album cover artwork looks very similar to my work," Jessica Lee wrote on Medium Sunday.
After doing some research, Jessica Lee found out that the illustrator of IU's album cover was someone who had communicated to her regarding her work years ago. She also added that she has contacted the person after learning about it.
She said, "I contacted the illustrator regarding this and she acknowledged that she took inspiration from my work for the 'overall tone and manner' of the illustration. However, when I showed this to other illustrators, they thought the similarities are too close to just be a 'tone' or 'manner.'"
"I respect IU's work and talent, and I am hoping that she did not know this happened," Jessica Lee added.
"As a fellow artist, I'm sure IU respects the authenticity and integrity of one's creation, and I hope to keep the originality of my artwork."
Jessica Lee added that she is hoping that this incident would "raise awareness and get companies to talk more about their design inspirations and give credit to the network of hard working artists that created the work."
Korea Joongang Daily reported Tuesday that the illustrator of IU's album cover, also surnamed Lee, spoke with her in 2012.
"She really liked my graduate thesis work, which were a series of posters on fairy-tale characters, and she wanted me to sell them on a site she ran or managed where illustrators sold their artwork as posters," she said.
Jessica Lee met the illustrator once in Korea wherein the former gave the latter some posters of her works "which are the same artwork she later referenced for IU's album cover."
Meanwhile, singer-songwriter IU released her seventh Korean-language extended play entitled "Cat-Shire" last October 23. The self-produced EP contains seven tracks including "Twenty-Three" and controversial song, "Zeze."