Ernest Zacharevic, a well-known Lithuanian street artist who has painted famous murals throughout Southeast Asia, has accused AirAsia of using one of his works on the exterior of an aeroplane without his consent. The accusation came to light after images of an AirAsia aircraft with a design remarkably similar to Zacharevic’s famous mural began circulating online.
Zacharevic posted on social media Monday, saying AirAsia didn’t get his permission, didn’t credit him, and didn’t pay him. He called it a “direct and unauthorised replication.” He’s worried about companies taking street art and profiting from it without respecting artists’ rights.
He wrote something like, “Street art may be public, but it is not free for corporate use.” He thinks this could set a bad example, leading artists to be exploited.
The artwork on the plane looks a lot like his usual style—realistic kids interacting with real objects. But AirAsia hasn’t said anything official yet.
People in the art world and legal experts jumped online to debate how copyright applies to street art. Even though murals are in public spaces, copyright still protects artists from unauthorised commercial use.
Some pointed out that AirAsia has worked with artists before on special plane designs, so, weirdly, they didn’t handle this one correctly.
Zacharevic, who’s known internationally for murals in Penang and events like the Kochi-Muziris Biennale, hopes this sparks broader discussion about respecting artists’ ownership rights.
Now, artists and advocacy groups want AirAsia to explain what happened and pay up if needed. But so far, no official word from the airline. Makes you wonder—how often do companies take street art without asking? And what does that mean for artists trying to make a living?
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