For better or worse, the Reality Fracture precon, Multiverse Reforged, is an unusually weird deck. Playing into the set’s reality-swapping themes, this precon is a Polymorph deck, albeit one with a weird top end. At the core of this, the deck’s face Commander, Jace, Multiverse Architect, does a lot of the heavy lifting, as you’d expect.
Sadly, while the flavor of Jace swapping one creature for another is on point, there is a glaring issue. According to MTG Artist Liiga Smilshkalne, this card’s art appears to be copying her work without her understanding. While this did cause a big stir initially, Wizards of the Coast has now seemingly responded, denying claims of any art theft.
Jace, Multiverse Architect Art Controversy
From the moment that Jace, Multiverse Architect was revealed, it didn’t take MTG players long to put two and two together. For those who have been playing since March of the Machine, this new Planeswalker’s art clearly evokes Beach the Multiverse. Initially, this seemed like a very purposeful nod to Jace’s plans and mental state, as a callback that’d been years in the making.
To the original artist, Liiga Smilshkalne, however, it didn’t feel like a touching homage to her work. Speaking up on Bluesky, in a now-removed post, Smilshkalne remarked that the similarities of specific central elements appeared directly copied. While Smilshkalne didn’t outright call this purposeful plagiarism, there were concerns about the potentially mangled meaning and artist crediting.
“Today I found out that Volkan Baga’s illustration for “Jace, Multiverse Architect” uses the central elements of my “Breach the Multiverse”. Had this been an homage, I would’ve been tickled pink. However, as seen in the same arbitrary shapes in the stolons and the crown, that’s not what it is.”
Liiga Smilshkalne – Via: Bluesky (Post has since been removed)
Since Smilshkalne’s initial reaction, however, Wizards of the Coast, via Volken Baga’s art broker, Mark Aronowitz, has shed some light on the situation.
Wizards Reveals All
In an email sent to Mark Aronowitz, which has not yet been shared publicly, Wizards formally explained what happened here. Essentially, the choice to use key elements of Breach of the Multiverse and pay homage to it so much was entirely intentional. On top of this, Aronowitz states that “Volkan followed the exact creative brief he was assigned,” and even double-checked with Wizards to ensure it was correct.
Here’s Wizards of the Coast’s statement in full, via Mark Aronowitz, which is up on Bluesky alongside additional context from Aronowitz.
“We’ve seen some of the discussion around the art of Jace, Multiverse Architect by Volkan Baga and Breach the Multiverse by Liiga Smilshkalne and wanted to make a few things clear.
First, the art direction given to Volkan was to directly reference this piece into the art. Much of the visual storytelling in Reality Fracture centers on Jace utilizing or incorporating powerful magic he has learned from events he has experienced. This was a direct, intentional call back to that moment to indicate that, in his efforts to rid the multiverse of Phyrexia, Jace had become the very thing he sought to eradicate.
Second, Volkan created this piece traditionally, from a first sketch done by hand up through the final painted version.
Finally, Magic has long created visual callbacks in its art to evoke connection through its shared multiverse. This has spurred some additional internal conversations about how we communicate those callbacks to artists who create iconic pieces, but it is very important to us to create a shared world that feels unified. This includes use of symbols, characters, and important moments throughout art.
We’ve been in contact with both artists and appreciate measured discussions around these important topics.”
Wizards of the Coast | Via: Mark Aronowitz | Via: Blueksy
Following this statement from Wizards and Aronowitz, Liiga Smilshkalne returned to Bluesky to provide an update and delete her old thread. In the new post, Smilshkalne apologized “for spreading my poor mood,” while highlighting the differing opinions around the interpretation of design. Currently, it is unclear if Wizards’ statement will be shared via official channels at a later date.
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