In a recent incident at the National Gallery of Art in Washington, D.C., climate activist Joanna Smith was sentenced to 60 days in prison for defacing a protective case around Edgar Degas’ sculpture “Little Dancer Aged Fourteen.” Smith, a 54-year-old resident of Brooklyn, New York, was involved in an act that the U.S. Attorney’s Office described as vandalism.
The event unfolded when Smith, alongside a fellow activist, deliberately smeared paint on the sculpture’s see-through case. This act of protest was intended to draw attention to their environmental concerns, but it resulted in significant damage to the exhibit. The incident, which occurred on April 27, 2023, led to approximately $4,000 in damages and required the artwork to be removed from display for ten days for necessary repairs.
During her sentencing, Judge Amy Berman Jackson also mandated that Smith serve 24 months of supervised release and complete 150 hours of community service, with a specific directive for 10 of those hours to involve cleaning graffiti. Additionally, Smith is required to pay restitution for the damages incurred and is barred from entering the nation’s capital and all museums and monuments for two years.
The attack was not only physical but was premeditated and filmed, with Smith and her accomplices creating video statements explaining their motivations. They even notified The Washington Post in advance, ensuring media coverage of their actions. This incident was part of a larger pattern of similar protests by climate activists, who have increasingly targeted art installations to highlight their environmental concerns.
The FBI’s Art Crime Team, along with the National Gallery of Art Police and U.S. Park Police, conducted the investigation, highlighting the serious nature of the crime and the federal response to protect national treasures. This sentencing serves as a stern reminder of the legal consequences of such protests, regardless of the activists’ underlying motives.