Art Law Case Briefs Podcast

United States v. McClain, (1977)

The defendants in this case had covertly aided in locating buyers for the cultural property, knowing they were likely violating Mexico’s patrimony laws.

Georgia O’Keeffe Foundation (Museum) v. Fisk University (2009)

Alfred Stieglitz, a innovative photographer, collector of modern art, and husband of Georgia O'Keeffe, perished leaving behind an estate included approximately 900 works of art and a will and testament that stated Georgia O'Keeffe, and this appeal examined respective rights of three parties concerning charitable gifts of 101 pieces of art given, subject to conditions, to Fisk University in the late 1940s and early 1950s

National Endowment for the Arts v. Finley (1998)

1990’s funding decisions of the NEA were under fire when the art viewing public found the funding and works scandalous, and congress responded with amendment section 954 of the National Foundation on Arts and Humanities Act

Cincinnati v. Contemporary Arts Center (1990)

Robert Mapplethorpe Exhibition “Perfect Moment” featured 5 graphic photos amongst 169 non-obscene works in Cincinnati v. Contemporary Arts Center, addressing the "as a whole" phrase in the Miller Test.

Miller v. California (1973)

Here the 3-pronged Miller Test is established in response to an appeal to the U.S. Supreme Court involving Marvin Miller's unsolicited, sexually explicit, obscene, mailing advertisements for sexy books.