Climate Activist Targets Picasso Painting in Protest at Montreal Museum of Fine Arts

On June 19, 2025, a climate activist affiliated with Last Generation Canada threw pink paint on Pablo Picasso's 1901 painting L'hétaïre at the Montreal Museum of Fine Arts (MMFA). The painting, protected by glass, showed no immediate signs of damage. The activist, identified as 21-year-old Marcel, was arrested and charged with mischief under $5,000. This act was part of a broader campaign by Last Generation Canada to urge the Canadian government to establish a Climate Disaster Protection Agency.

The incident occurred around 10:40 a.m. at the MMFA, where L'hétaïre, an early Blue Period portrait by Picasso, was on display as part of the exhibition "Berthe Weill: Art Dealer of the Parisian Avant-Garde." The painting, on loan from the Pinacoteca Agnelli in Turin, was behind protective glass, which prevented immediate damage. The museum temporarily closed the exhibition and reopened it at 11:30 a.m.

Marcel was arrested at the scene and charged with mischief under $5,000. He was released with a promise to appear in court at a later date. Two other individuals present, who were filming the incident, were detained but later released without charges.

In a statement, Marcel expressed his motivation for the protest: "We value paint strokes and colour composition over life itself. A lot more resources have been put in place to secure and protect this artwork than to protect living, breathing people."

Stéphane Aquin, director of the MMFA, responded to the incident, stating, "It is most unfortunate that this act carried out in the name of environmental activism targeted a work belonging to our global cultural heritage and under safekeeping for the benefit of future generations. Art is another powerful tool for social change. Museums and artists alike are allies in the fight for a better world."

Last Generation Canada is an environmental activist group that employs civil disobedience to pressure the Canadian government into taking action on climate change. Their demands include the creation of a Climate Disaster Protection Agency funded by punitive taxes on the ultra-rich and fossil fuel executives. The group has been involved in various protests, including blocking major roads and targeting cultural institutions with paint to draw attention to their cause.

The protest occurred amid a severe wildfire season in Canada, with over 250 active wildfires reported at the time. The activists aimed to highlight the disparity between the protection of cultural artifacts and the perceived lack of adequate response to climate disasters affecting communities.

Similar actions have been taken by climate activists targeting artworks to draw attention to environmental issues. For instance, in October 2022, members of the German group Last Generation threw mashed potatoes at a Monet painting in Potsdam, Germany. These acts are part of a broader strategy to use high-profile cultural symbols to provoke public discourse on climate change.

The incident raises questions about the effectiveness and ethics of using cultural artifacts as platforms for protest. While such actions garner significant media attention, they also spark debates about the appropriateness of targeting art to convey political messages. Museums and cultural institutions may need to reassess security measures and engage in dialogues about their roles in societal issues.

The act of defacing a protected artwork to protest climate inaction underscores the urgency felt by activists and the lengths they are willing to go to draw attention to their cause. It also highlights the complex relationship between cultural preservation and political activism in the context of global environmental challenges.