A climate activist who smeared paint on the case and base of a Degas sculpture at the National Gallery of Art in Washington, DC has been found guilty for his role in the “defacement of an art exhibit”.
Timothy Martin of North Carolina was found guilty by a federal jury on 8 April for “defacing” the Edgar Degas ballerina sculpture on 27 April 2023.
Martin and co-defendant Johanna Smith, both part of environmentalist group Declare Emergency, smeared paint on the 1880 sculpture, according to evidence introduced in court.
Protest at Edgar Degas ballerina sculpture
Following a four-day trial, the jury found Martin guilty of “conspiracy to commit an offense against the United States and injury to a National Gallery of Art exhibit”.
“This verdict sends a strong message to the thousands of people who come to DC each year to demonstrate and be heard,” US Attorney Edward R. Martin Jr said in a statement.
“Free speech is a constitutional right. But when you take action, such as destroying property like priceless pieces of art, you are crossing a line that no one in this city will condone.”
In an interview with USA Today, Timothy Martin said the Degas sculpture was “protected so I could apply paint to the case without damaging the sculpture but all the children of the world are not protected because of climate change”.
Although the protest did not directly harm the sculpture, Smith and Martin caused more than $4,000 in damage, including material and labour costs, said federal authorities.
Additionally, the exhibit was removed from public display for 10 days for repairs.
Smith pleaded guilty on 15 December 2023 to one count of causing injury to a National Gallery of Art exhibit.
Demonstration did not directly harm the artwork
She was sentenced to 60 days in prison, followed by 24 months of supervised release. She was also ordered to pay a $3,000 fine and $4,062 in restitution.
U.S. District Judge Amy Berman Jackson has scheduled Martin’s sentencing for 22 August.
Last month, climate action group Just Stop Oil announced the end of its civil resistance campaign.
Images courtesy of the National Gallery of Art
