DUBAI: Egyptian TV presenter and designer Maha Al-Sagheer has issued an apology after falsely claiming ownership of artworks by four European artists during a recent talk show appearance, sparking backlash from the original painters and social media users.
Al-Sagheer appeared last month as a guest on a talk show on ON channel with prominent TV host Mona El-Shazly where she spoke of her passion for fine arts and showcased several paintings on a large screen, claiming they were her own.
However, Danish artist Lisa Lach-Nielsen took to Instagram on Sunday to accuse the TV presenter of stealing her artwork, titled “Made Myself Some Wings,” which she created in 2019, along with pieces by three other artists.
“Copying other people’s work is one thing, but taking a photo of the actual painting, that someone else made, and taking public ownership of it … that’s new to me,” said Lach-Nielsen wrote in the post, where she also tagged two other artists whose works she identified.
She noted that the act is “not only a violation of the law but also the person who put their soul and time into the work.
“Living as an artist is not always easy, and we need the internet to show our work … no one should take advantage of that,” said Lach-Nielsen.
In response to the online criticism sparked by Lach-Nielsen’s post, Al-Sagheer posted an apology on her Facebook account on Monday, admitting her “big mistake towards the danish artist Lisa, towards artists and more important towards myself.
“I have been passing through hardship during this period of my life. It has been a very tough time. However, it doesn’t give me the right to do what I have done. I’m deeply sorry and very upset due to what I have done.”
Earlier in the day, Finnish artist Caroline Wendelin also spoke out online, raising concerns over the unauthorized use of her painting “Becoming the Garden.”
Wendelin said: “I’m not rich. I’m not famous. I work until I’m exhausted, all while raising 3 small children and pouring my whole heart into my art. Hoping that one day it might give us a chance to buy our first home.
“So imagine what it feels like to see a wealthy influencer steal my art, claim it as her own, and present it on national TV as if it came from her hands.”
She added that her painting “symbolises how with time and patience, we become what we nurture. Seeing someone erase that meaning is deeply painful.”
On the same day, Dubai-based French artist Seaty took to Instagram to identify three of his artworks titled “Dwarka”, “Kigali” and “Bushido,” which he created in 2017, among the pieces displayed on the show.
“Worse still, in the broadcast segment, my former studio is clearly visible, along with the canvases bearing my signature, and even the original photo available on my Instagram page.”
He added: “After all these years of effort, failure, research, and creative energy … to have my art stolen like this, in broad daylight, so shamelessly and without remorse it’s simply unacceptable. Especially in 2025, in an age when everything can be verified in a matter of clicks.”
The backlash also prompted TV host El-Shazly to apologize for the incident, sharing an image of the Danish artist Lach-Nielsen’s painting and acknowledging that it is her work.
“We respect true artists and value their original creations in all fields.”
