Man Defaces Student Painting At NYC MET Museum, Writing 'Nazi Art'

This painting, Ghost Realm, by Amadi Rubie, grade 11, age 16, of Benjamin N. Cardozo High School, Oakland Gardens, New York, is one of the paintings in the “Scholastic Art & Writing Awards: New York City Regional Exhibition.” A visitor to the museum vandalized another student work in the show. Courtesy of the Metropolitan Museum of Art. Educator: Minwouk Rhee.

Ryan Watson, 33, allegedly vandalized a student painting on view at the Metropolitan Museum of Art on April 19. Watson scrawled 'Nazi Art' across the work -- one of 600 included in the 'Scholastic Art & Writing Awards: New York City Regional Exhibition', on view March 24-May 29, 2017.  Each participating artist won the highest honor, the Gold Key Award, in the 2017 Scholastic Art & Writing Awards, organized by the Alliance for Young Artists & Writers.

Reports are that when Watson was confronted by a security guard, he shouted "Go back to your country!" according to the New York Daily News. He was detained by the guard and then arrested by police. Currently the incident is not being charged as a hate crime.