Privacy Policy

1. Information We Collect

1.1 Personal Information You Provide

We may collect the following personal information when you voluntarily provide it:

• Contact Information: Name, email address, phone number when you contact us
• Newsletter Subscriptions: Email address for art updates and exhibition announcements
• Inquiry Details: Information in messages about artwork purchases, commissions, or general inquiries
• Event Information: Details if you RSVP to exhibitions or art events
• Feedback: Comments, reviews, or testimonials you provide

1.2 Information Automatically Collected

When you visit our website, we automatically collect:

• Technical Information: IP address, browser type, device information, operating system
• Usage Data: Pages visited, time spent on site, referring websites, exit pages
• Geographic Data: General location based on IP address (city/region level)
• Cookies and Tracking: Information stored through cookies and similar technologies

1.3 Information from Third Parties

We may receive information from:

• Social Media: When you interact with our social media pages or share our content
• Analytics Services: Aggregated data from Google Analytics (if implemented)
• Hosting Provider: Server logs and security information from Netlify

2. How We Use Your Information

2.1 Primary Purposes

We use your personal information for the following purposes:

• Communication: Responding to your inquiries and providing customer service
• Newsletter: Sending updates about new artwork, exhibitions, and artistic projects (with your consent)
• Website Functionality: Ensuring proper website operation and user experience
• Art Sales/Commissions: Processing artwork purchases and commission requests
• Legal Compliance: Meeting legal obligations and protecting our rights
• Security: Protecting against fraud, abuse, and unauthorized access

2.2 Legal Basis for Processing (GDPR)

We process your data based on:

• Consent: Newsletter subscriptions and marketing communications
• Contract Performance: Artwork sales and commission agreements
• Legitimate Interest: Website security, analytics, and customer service
• Legal Obligation: Tax records, copyright protection, and legal compliance

3. Information Sharing and Disclosure

3.1 Third-Party Services

We may share your information with trusted third parties who help us operate our website:

• Netlify: Website hosting and content delivery (privacy policy: netlify.com/privacy)
• Email Services: Newsletter delivery (if implemented)
• Analytics: Google Analytics for website usage analysis (if implemented)
• Payment Processors: For artwork sales (PayPal, Stripe - if implemented)

3.2 Legal Disclosures

We may disclose your information when required by law or to:

• Comply with legal processes, court orders, or government requests
• Protect our rights, property, or safety and that of our users
• Investigate fraud, security breaches, or policy violations
• Defend against legal claims or litigation

4. Cookies and Tracking Technologies

4.1 Cookie Categories

Essential Cookies: Required for website functionality (no consent needed)

• Session management and security
• Load balancing and technical functionality
• User preferences and settings

Non-Essential Cookies (consent required):

• Analytics: Google Analytics for usage statistics
• Social Media: Instagram, Twitter, Facebook integration
• Marketing: Newsletter signup tracking and conversion analysis

4.2 Cookie Management

You can control cookies through:

• Our cookie consent banner (appears on first visit)
• Browser settings to block or delete cookies
• Opt-out tools provided by third-party services
• Global Privacy Control (GPC) signals (automatically respected)

5. Your Rights and Choices

5.1 GDPR Rights (EU Residents)

If you are in the EU, you have the right to:

• Access: Request a copy of your personal data we hold
• Rectification: Correct inaccurate or incomplete information
• Erasure: Request deletion of your personal data ("right to be forgotten")
• Portability: Receive your data in machine-readable format
• Restriction: Limit how we process your data
• Objection: Object to processing based on legitimate interests
• Withdraw Consent: Remove permission for consent-based processing

5.2 CCPA Rights (California Residents)

California residents have the right to:

• Know: Information about personal data collection, use, and sharing
• Access: Request specific pieces of personal information
• Delete: Request deletion of personal information
• Opt-Out: Opt out of sale or sharing of personal information
• Non-Discrimination: Equal service regardless of privacy choices

5.3 Exercising Your Rights

To exercise your rights, contact us at:

• Email: artist@stopmemalkuth.com
• Contact Form: Website Contact Page
• Subject Line: "Privacy Rights Request - [Your Name]"

Response Time: We will respond within 30 days (GDPR) or 45 days (CCPA) of receiving a valid request.

6. Data Security and Retention

6.1 Security Measures

We implement appropriate security measures to protect your personal information:

• Encryption: HTTPS/SSL encryption for all data transmission
• Access Controls: Limited access to personal data on need-to-know basis
• Regular Updates: Security software and system updates
• Incident Response: Procedures for security breach notification

6.2 Data Retention

We retain your personal information for the following periods:

• Newsletter Subscriptions: Until you unsubscribe or request deletion
• Contact Inquiries: 3 years from last contact for customer service purposes
• Purchase Records: 7 years for tax and legal compliance requirements
• Website Analytics: 26 months (Google Analytics default)
• Security Logs: 12 months for fraud prevention and security

7. International Data Transfers

Our website is operated from the United States. If you are visiting from outside the US:

• Your information may be transferred to and stored in the United States
• US privacy laws may differ from your home country
• We implement appropriate safeguards for international transfers
• EU visitors benefit from adequacy decisions where applicable

8. Contact Information