The art industry is a marketplace for buyers and sellers to trade creations and artwork, some of which bear historical lineage. In 2023 alone, the top 100 pieces at auction brought in $2.4 billion. And while many artists dream of selling their works at auction, a group of young artists — students at a middle school in Canada — alleged that their teacher began lining his pockets by selling their hard work.

Students at Westwood Junior High in Quebec contend that their art pieces, which were allegedly found to be listed as “creepy portraits” online, are class assignments done at the direction of art teacher Mario Perron. Perron has been accused of selling his student’s art for up to $151.