The Law Society of NSW has backed embattled artist Bill Henson, who could face charges after police seized his latest gallery images which feature nude children.
Society president Hugh Macken said he could not see how a crime had been committed, and police prosecutors would have to argue the renowned Melbourne-based artist had intended to produce something other than art.
"What is relevant to the commission of a crime is the intention," Mr Macken told reporters in Sydney.
"If the intention is to produce a work of art, and solely to produce a work of art, then I can't see how a crime has been committed."
Officers raided the Roslyn Oxley9 Gallery, in Paddington in Sydney's eastern suburbs, just before the exhibition was due to open on Thursday night.
They seized 20 of Henson's images which feature a naked girl and boy said to be aged 12 to 13.
NSW Police Force has said it intends to lay state and federal charges, and the investigation has also gone interstate as the young girl is understood to be living in Victoria.
Rose Bay Local Area Commander Superintendent Allan Sicard said the seized images depicted a child under the age of 16 years "in a sexual context".
Commonwealth charges could be laid over the gallery's website with state charges applying to the pictures, he said.
The raid, and the prospect of an artist facing criminal charges, has reignited the debate about what constitutes art.
Acclaimed NSW artist Margaret Olley joined those in support of Mr Henson, saying that his images were being misconstrued.
"All of a sudden it is turned into pornography - I am embarrassed that we seem to be going backwards," she told the Seven Network.
NSW Police confirmed they are yet to lay charges as their investigation continues.
Mr Henson is yet to comment publicly.