Who Owns the Client Relationship When an Artist Leaves a Studio?

A client discovers an artist through a studio’s advertising, social media, website, receptionist, or walk-in traffic. The artist completes several pieces for that client and develops the personal working relationship. Then the artist leaves the studio. Does the client belong to nobody and simply choose where to go next? Should the departing artist be allowed to contact clients directly? Does the studio have a legitimate claim because it paid to attract, schedule, and support those clients? The situation becomes more complicated when appointments, deposits, unfinished pieces, memberships, or future sessions are already involved. What information should the studio provide the client? What information should the departing artist be allowed to take? Should the client always be told exactly where the artist went? Studio owners, artists, and clients: what is the fair way to handle this without treating people like property?