Overview

• Timothy Martin, 55, of Raleigh, North Carolina, was convicted by a federal jury of conspiracy and injuring a National Gallery of Art exhibit.
• The defacement, carried out in April 2023 alongside co-defendant Johanna Smith, caused over $4,000 in damage and a 10-day exhibit closure.
• Martin and Smith targeted the sculpture to protest fossil fuel dependency and highlight climate emergency concerns.
• Smith, who pleaded guilty in December 2023, served a 60-day prison sentence and was ordered to pay fines and restitution.
• The case aligns with a federal initiative under a March 2025 Executive Order to protect cultural heritage and enhance urban aesthetics in Washington, D.C.