Magic: The Gathering Artist Officially Responds to Artist Allegations of
Magic: The Gathering artist Liiga Smilshkalne has publicly alleged that Volkan Baga’s artwork for Jace, Multiverse Architect — a prominent card in the upcoming Reality Fracture set — reproduces central compositional elements from her 2023 card illustration for Breach the Multiverse without attribution or prior notification.
Smilshkalne stated that while she would have welcomed an intentional homage with proper credit, she was not consulted about the reuse of distinctive features from her original composition. The allegation gained attention as the card is positioned as the face Commander of a preconstructed deck product for the set.
In response, Wizards of the Coast acknowledged the visual similarities but characterized them as both intentional and mandated by the publisher’s art direction. This official statement suggests the resemblance was a deliberate creative choice rather than an oversight, though it raises questions about artist consultation and credit practices in Magic’s illustration process.
The incident highlights ongoing discussions within the trading card game community about artist recognition, creative ownership, and the process by which published artwork is commissioned and approved. Smilshkalne’s objection specifically centers on not being involved in decisions about her previous work’s elements being referenced in new illustrations.