Privacy Policy

Last updated: 4 August 2026

This Privacy Policy explains how personal data is collected and processed when you visit www.vanessabenz.com, contact me through this website, subscribe to receive updates or interact with embedded third-party content.

1. Who is responsible for this website?

The person responsible for this website is:

Vanessa Benz
Feldstrasse 19, CH-8718 Schänis, Switzerland
Email: hello@vanessabenz.com

2. Copyright

All artworks, photographs and other original content on this website are protected by copyright to the extent provided by law. All rights are reserved by Vanessa Benz unless otherwise stated. No content may be reproduced, distributed, modified or used for commercial purposes without prior written permission.

3. General information

I handle personal data carefully and only process it where necessary to operate this website, respond to enquiries, provide requested information and communicate about my artwork. This Privacy Policy is primarily based on the Swiss Federal Act on Data Protection. Where applicable, the requirements of the EU General Data Protection Regulation may also be taken into account. Personal data means any information relating to an identified or identifiable individual, such as a name, email address, IP address or message content.

4. Visiting this website

This website is hosted and operated using Squarespace, a service provided by Squarespace, Inc. Squarespace Analytics may be used to obtain aggregated information about website traffic and usage, such as the number of visits, page views, approximate geographic region and traffic sources. I do not use Google Analytics, Meta Pixel or other external advertising or tracking tools. When you visit the website, technical data may automatically be processed to display the website securely and correctly. This may include: IP address; browser type and version; device and operating-system information; date and time of access; pages and files accessed; referring website; and technical log and security information. This processing is necessary for the operation, security and stability of the website and for preventing misuse. Squarespace and its service providers may process data outside Switzerland, including in the United States.

Where personal data is transferred internationally, appropriate legal safeguards are used where required. Further information about Squarespace’s data practices can be found in Squarespace’s own privacy policy.

5. Cookies and similar technologies

This website may use cookies and similar technologies. Cookies are small files stored on your device. Some cookies are technically necessary for the website to function properly, for example to provide security, remember privacy settings or enable essential website features. Other cookies may be used for analytics, performance or embedded third-party content. Where required by applicable law, such non-essential cookies are only activated after you have given your consent through the cookie banner. You can accept, reject or manage non-essential cookies through the cookie settings displayed on the website. You can also delete or block cookies through your browser settings. Blocking necessary cookies may affect the functionality of the website.

6. Contact enquiries

If you contact me by email or through the contact form, I process the information you provide, such as: your name; your email address; the content of your message; and any other information you voluntarily provide. I use this information solely to respond to your enquiry, communicate with you and, where relevant, discuss the availability, purchase, payment, collection or delivery of an artwork. Your message may be transmitted and stored through Squarespace and/or my email provider. I retain correspondence only for as long as reasonably necessary for the purpose of the communication or to comply with legal obligations. Please do not submit sensitive or confidential personal information through the contact form.

7. Email updates and newsletter sign-up

You may voluntarily provide your email address to receive news and updates about my artwork, exhibitions, events, new collections or future print releases. Your email address will only be used for this purpose. It will not be sold or shared with third parties for their own marketing purposes. You may withdraw your consent and unsubscribe at any time by using an unsubscribe option provided in an email or by contacting me at hello@vanessabenz.com.Until a dedicated newsletter service is introduced, addresses submitted through the website may be stored within Squarespace or forwarded to and stored in my email account. If a separate newsletter provider is introduced in the future, this Privacy Policy will be updated accordingly.

8. Instagram and other third-party content

This website may contain links to my social-media profiles or may display content provided by third parties, such as Instagram posts or feeds. A simple link does not normally transmit data to the relevant platform until you click it. However, where third-party content is embedded directly into the website, the provider may receive technical information such as your IP address, browser information and details about your visit. The provider may also use cookies or recognise you if you are logged into its service. Instagram is a service provided by Meta Platforms. Meta may process personal data in countries outside Switzerland, including the United States, in accordance with its own privacy policy and cookie policy. Where legally required, embedded third-party content and related non-essential cookies will only be activated after you have given your consent. I have no control over the scope or further use of data collected directly by third-party providers. Please consult the relevant provider’s privacy policy for further information.

9. Legal grounds and purposes of processing

Depending on the circumstances and the law applicable to you, personal data may be processed: with your consent; to respond to your request or take steps connected with a possible purchase; to perform or prepare a contract; to comply with legal obligations; or on the basis of a legitimate interest in operating a secure, functional and informative artist website and communicating with interested visitors. Where processing is based on consent, you may withdraw that consent at any time. Withdrawal does not affect processing that took place before consent was withdrawn.

10. Data sharing

I do not sell your personal data. Personal data may be shared with service providers only where this is necessary to operate the website, manage communications or provide requested services. Such providers may include: Squarespace as website and hosting provider; email and IT service providers; social-media and embedded-content providers; and professional advisers or public authorities where legally required. Service providers process data under their own contractual and legal obligations.

11. International data transfers

Some service providers used for this website may be based outside Switzerland or may process data in other countries. Where personal data is transferred to a country without an officially recognised adequate level of data protection, appropriate safeguards may be used, such as recognised standard contractual clauses, unless another lawful basis for the transfer applies. Please note that data processed abroad may be subject to the laws and access rights of authorities in the relevant country.

12. Data retention

I retain personal data only for as long as necessary for the purpose for which it was collected. Correspondence relating to an enquiry may be retained until the enquiry has been completed. Information relating to a purchase or contractual relationship may be stored for longer where required by Swiss accounting, tax or other legal obligations. Newsletter contact details are retained until you unsubscribe or otherwise ask for their deletion, subject to any overriding legal obligations.

13. Data security

I take reasonable technical and organisational measures to protect personal data against unauthorised access, loss, misuse, alteration or disclosure. Nevertheless, the transmission of information over the internet cannot be guaranteed to be completely secure.

14. Your rights

Subject to the conditions and limitations of applicable law, you may have the right to: request information about the personal data processed about you; request correction of inaccurate data; request deletion of your personal data; object to or restrict certain processing; withdraw consent with effect for the future; and request the release or transfer of certain data in a commonly used electronic format. To exercise any of these rights, please contact me at hello@vanessabenz.com. I may need to verify your identity before responding. You may also have the right to submit a complaint to the competent data-protection authority. In Switzerland, this is the Federal Data Protection and Information Commissioner.

15. External links

This website may contain links to external websites. I am not responsible for the content, security or privacy practices of those third-party websites. Their own privacy policies apply when you visit them.

16. Children

This website is not specifically directed at children, and I do not knowingly collect personal data from children through the website.

17. Changes to this Privacy Policy

I may update this Privacy Policy when the website, the services used or the applicable legal requirements change. The current version published on this website applies. The date of the latest revision is shown at the top of this page.