Wizards explains the Jace artwork dispute
A newly revealed Magic: The Gathering card has sparked a debate about artistic copying, after artist Liiga Smilshkalne objected to similarities between her work and a new illustration by Volkan Baga.
The card at the centre of the discussion is Jace, Multiverse Architect, the face Commander of the single preconstructed deck accompanying the upcoming Reality Fracture set.
Smilshkalne said Baga’s artwork reused important elements from her illustration for 2023’s Breach the Multiverse. She said an acknowledged homage would have been welcome, but objected to the distinctive composition being repeated without her knowledge or credit.
Why the two illustrations look similar
Breach the Multiverse depicts Realmbreaker, the corrupted World Tree that helped Phyrexia spread its invasion across the Multiverse in March of the Machine. Its branches frame a pale, symmetrical crown that resembles Elesh Norn’s headdress.
In Baga’s Jace illustration, blue magical tendrils create a comparable surrounding shape. Smilshkalne also highlighted a dark vertical line running through both images. In her piece, the line represents Phyrexian oil flowing down Realmbreaker and contributes to the Phyrexian symbolism. In the new painting, a similar blue line runs down Jace’s body.
Smilshkalne said she was disappointed that the visual details appeared to have been copied without sufficient understanding or consultation. She also argued that the oil waterfall’s original symbolic meaning did not carry over naturally to the new image.
“I’m very disappointed to see my work copied without understanding or at the very least asking,” Smilshkalne wrote in a now-deleted Bluesky thread.
Wizards says the reference was deliberate
Wizards of the Coast said Baga was specifically instructed to reference Smilshkalne’s illustration. The publisher described the resemblance as an intentional part of the card’s art direction, rather than an unapproved reuse of source material.
The company said Reality Fracture uses visual callbacks to show Jace drawing on powerful magic and experiences from Magic’s wider story. After being captured and compleated by the Phyrexians, Jace attempted to rewrite the Multiverse from within the Meditation Realm and remove his greatest enemies. The spell consumed him and destroyed his body.
Fragments of Jace’s mind later formed a new body. One fragment, known as The Theorist, created the Echoverse as a dark parallel multiverse and intended for it to replace the Multiverse. Realmbreaker’s ability to merge planes gives the shared imagery between the two cards a story connection, as Jace attempts to bring the Multiverse and Echoverse together.
Wizards also stated that Baga produced the artwork traditionally, starting with a hand-drawn sketch before completing a painted version. This addresses speculation that elements from Smilshkalne’s digital illustration had simply been extracted, recoloured and inserted into the new card art.
Artists were contacted after the dispute
Mark Aronowitz, Baga’s art broker, said in a public statement that Baga followed the creative brief. Aronowitz said the artist discussed the background swirl and overall mood with the art director before painting and was told to proceed with that composition.
“Creative misunderstandings happen, especially when reference material is involved, but Volkan worked entirely in good faith and with total professionalism from sketch to final oils,” Aronowitz wrote.
Wizards has not said whether Smilshkalne was told in advance that the new illustration would deliberately echo her work. The publisher has, however, acknowledged that the reaction led to internal discussions about how these visual callbacks are communicated to artists.
The company said visual references have long been used to create connections across Magic’s shared Multiverse, while also stressing the importance of a unified world. Wizards has since contacted both Smilshkalne and Baga.
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