Black indie artist sees her artwork, a Nipsey Hussle portrait, sold by Walmart — without permission, she says

(ATLANTA, GA) Exclusive: A Black artist found out through Instagram that Walmart is selling her artwork without her consent. She said she identified her artwork through a watermark Walmart apparently failed to remove.

The artist, Jeresneyka Rose, told the IssuesMatter on Wednesday that she is in the process of taking legal action against the retail giant. In early February, Rose called Walmart out on Twitter over her painting of late rapper Nipsey Hussle. According to a message she received on Instagram, the print was being sold at a Walmart in Smyrna, Georgia

“Happy Black History Month to me. Just another day in the life of billionaire companies stealing from small black businesses like mine,” Rose wrote at the time. “Next time remove the watermark and don’t profit off of people’s deaths weirdos.”

Rose found out Walmart was selling the print after being tagged in a photograph of it on Instagram. The person who tagged her figured it was a “collaboration” and congratulated her, she told the Southeast Express.

She noticed one of her watermarks was still attached to the print. She reportedly had five watermarks on the artwork, which she posted to Twitter, and she said Walmart removed all of them but one, leading her to identify the piece as hers.

Rose told the IssuesMatter she has no idea how many copies of her work have been sold by Walmart, adding that she would usually sell the print for $100.

“We have to be mindful that most artists and small businesses do not have the funds and resources to mass produce work to sell them for lower prices,” she said.