Climate Activists Indicted for Vandalism of Degas Sculpture at National Gallery of Art

Joanna Smith, 54, of Brooklyn, New York, has been charged with defacing the historic Edgar Degas sculpture "Little Dancer Aged Fourteen" at Washington, D.C.'s National Gallery of Art. The incident, which occurred on April 27, 2023, caused $4,000 in damage and led to the temporary removal of the sculpture for repairs.

Washington, D.C. - Joanna Smith, 54, of Brooklyn, New York, has been charged with defacing the historic Edgar Degas sculpture "Little Dancer Aged Fourteen" at Washington, D.C.'s National Gallery of Art. The incident occurred on April 27, 2023, and caused $4,000 in damage, forcing staff to remove the sculpture from the galleries for 10 days for repairs.

According to the U.S. Attorney's Office in Washington, D.C., Smith and other co-conspirators traveled to the National Gallery of Art on April 27, 2023, and allegedly targeted the Degas sculpture. They are accused of smuggling paint in plastic water bottles and filming themselves smearing paint on the base and see-through case, sometimes hitting the priceless artwork with force.

The government's evidence includes video statements made by Smith and her co-conspirators explaining their intent. They also alerted two reporters from the Washington Post who arrived and took photos of the vandalism.

Smith has been charged with one count of conspiracy to commit an offense against the United States and one count of destruction of government property. She faces a maximum sentence of five years in prison on each count.

In addition to the criminal charges, Smith has also been ordered to pay restitution for the damage to the Degas sculpture and has been barred from entering the nation's capital and all museums and monuments for two years.

The case was investigated by the FBI's Washington Field Office, specifically the FBI's Art Crime Team, with assistance from the National Gallery of Art Police and U.S. Park Police.

The National Gallery of Art is one of the most prestigious museums in the world, housing a vast collection of paintings, sculptures, and other works of art. The Degas sculpture "Little Dancer Aged Fourteen" is a renowned masterpiece, created in 1881 and depicting a young ballerina in a pink tutu.

The vandalism of the Degas sculpture has been met with widespread condemnation from art historians, museum professionals, and the general public. In a statement, the National Gallery of Art said that it "deplores this act of vandalism and will take all necessary steps to protect its collection."

The incident highlights the ongoing threat to cultural heritage from climate activists. In recent months, there have been a number of similar incidents, including the smearing of paint on a Van Gogh painting in London and the gluing of activists to a painting by Titian in Florence.

While climate change is a pressing issue, experts argue that acts of vandalism and destruction of cultural heritage are counterproductive and do nothing to address the underlying causes of the problem.