Climate Activist Convicted for Defacing Degas Sculpture in National Gallery

Timothy Martin was found guilty of federal charges stemming from the 2023 vandalism of Edgar Degas' 'Little Dancer,' with sentencing set for August 2025.

• 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.

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