Climate activist sentenced to prison for defacing Edgar Degas sculpture at National Gallery of Art
A climate activist named Joanna Smith has been sentenced to 60 days in prison for defacing the historic Edgar Degas sculpture “Little Dancer Aged Fourteen” at the National Gallery of Art in Washington, D.C. Smith, along with other co-conspirators, targeted the sculpture on April 27, 2023, by smearing paint on the case surrounding the artwork.
The U.S. Attorney’s Office in Washington, D.C. announced the sentencing, which also includes 24 months of supervised release, 150 hours of community service (including 10 hours of cleaning graffiti), restitution for the damage caused, and a two-year ban from entering the nation’s capital and all museums and monuments.
The incident caused $4,000 in damage and forced staff to remove the sculpture from the galleries for 10 days for repairs. The FBI’s Art Crime Team, along with the National Gallery of Art Police and U.S. Park Police, investigated the case.
Smith and her co-conspirators smuggled paint in plastic water bottles and filmed themselves defacing the sculpture, hitting it with force at times. They also alerted reporters from the Washington Post who arrived and took photos of the vandalism.
The sentencing serves as a reminder of the consequences of defacing historic artworks and the importance of preserving cultural heritage.
