Climate activist Joanna Smith, 54, from Brooklyn, N.Y., was charged for allegedly defacing a case surrounding 19th century French artist Edgar Degas’ “Little Dancer Aged Fourteen” sculpture at Washington, D.C.’s National Gallery of Art. She received 60 days of prison time, 24 months of supervised release, 150 hours of community service, and restitution for the damage caused to the Degas sculpture. Smith was also barred from entering the nation’s capital and all museums and monuments for two years.
Smith, along with other co-conspirators, traveled to Washington, D.C. on April 27, 2023, and targeted the sculpture by smuggling paint in plastic water bottles. They filmed themselves smearing paint on the base and see-through case of the sculpture, sometimes hitting the priceless artwork with force on their phones. Smith and her co-conspirators created video statements explaining their intent and alerted two reporters from the Washington Post, who arrived and took photos of the vandalism.
The incident on April 27 caused $4,000 in damage to the Degas sculpture, leading staff to remove “Little Dancer” from the galleries for 10 days for repairs. 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. Smith was among those indicted for vandalizing the “Little Dancer Aged Fourteen” sculpture as part of a climate protest, highlighting the heightened consequences of such actions on treasured artworks in museums.
Judge Amy Berman Jackson sentenced Joanna Smith to prison time, supervised release, community service, and restitution for defacing the historic Degas sculpture. The harsh penalties reflect the severity of the crime and the broader impact of such vandalism on cultural heritage. Smith’s actions were part of a coordinated effort by climate activists to draw attention to environmental issues but resulted in lasting damage to a priceless artwork, requiring extensive repairs and removal from public display.
The involvement of multiple co-conspirators in the vandalism of the Degas sculpture underscores the organized nature of the protest and the premeditated intent to deface the artwork for publicity. The use of paint in plastic water bottles and filming the incident on phones demonstrate a deliberate effort to capture the act of vandalism for dissemination. Despite their intentions to raise awareness about climate change, the activists’ actions led to financial costs, inconvenience to museum staff, and repercussions for the defendant and her co-conspirators.
The case serves as a stark reminder of the legal consequences of defacing cultural heritage sites and artwork in the name of activism. The damage caused to the Degas sculpture highlights the fragility of historical artifacts and the need for vigilance in protecting them from harm. The partnership between law enforcement agencies like the FBI and museum security forces is crucial in investigating and prosecuting such crimes to uphold the integrity of cultural institutions. The sentencing of Joanna Smith sends a message that individuals engaged in vandalism will face significant penalties for their actions, regardless of their motivations.
