Influencers Fined for Vandalizing Thomas J Price Sculpture

Two young influencers, one Italian and one foreign, were caught attaching bananas with adhesive tape to a bronze sculpture in Piazza della Signoria, Florence. The artwork, Time Unfolding by British artist Thomas J Price, depicts a young Black woman looking at her phone, positioned with her back to Palazzo Vecchio and Michelangelo’s David.

The act was immediately stopped by local police, who fined the two individuals €160 each for violating city regulations. Officials and art experts condemned the incident, highlighting its troubling implications. The sculpture is part of the Thomas J Price in Florence exhibition, which features the artist’s works at Museo Novecento and Palazzo Vecchio.

Authorities stressed that such actions are not artistic performances or pranks but acts that reinforce the need to combat racism in all its forms. The installation remains undamaged, but the incident has sparked renewed discussion on public art, social awareness, and respect for cultural symbols.