An Australian megachurch has been accused of plagiarising a Melbourne artist's work and she has taken to social media to name and shame them.
Melbourne-based artist Esther Olsson discovered that Hillsong, a church that originated in Sydney but has expanded across the globe, has created a new album cover and merchandise that resembles her own artwork.
- Guy Williams joke about Christian music ignites fierce debate
- Peadophiles not welcome in Hillsong Church
- 'Church songs are the ultimate pop music' - Brooke Fraser
Ms Olsson took to her Instagram account to share her side of the story.
Email screenshots appear to show that in November last year, Hillsong's Art Director Nathan Cahyadi contacted Ms Olsson prior to the designs being created, to let her know her work had inspired the concept for an upcoming album.
He also asked if she could work with Hillsong on the project.
She told her followers via her Instagram story that she'd passed on the offer, but later learnt the group had designed something influenced by her pieces.
"Then, I finally saw the work on their Instagram, shown by a friend," she says.
Images of Ms Olsson's art that she'd posted to her Instagram show that the cover looked uncannily like her own, and appeared to borrow entire symbols.
"I'm not normally one who shares this stuff, it makes me feel super anxious, so if you want to like/share/repost and just blast those bad boys to hell," she wrote.
"Now I'm just really f**king depressed because they've also produced t-shirts, which the majority of my commissions are coming from textiles and now they're just ripping that off, and taking that away from me."
Hillsong Church have been reached for comment.
Newshub.
