A man accused of vandalising a £20m Picasso painting at the Tate Modern appeared for the first time at Camberwell Green Magistrates Court today.
Shakeel Massey, 20, of Clarendon Court, Willesden Green is charged with ripping the Spanish artist’s 1944 work ‘Bust of a Woman’.
He indicated a not guilty plea and was remanded in custody to appear at Inner London Crown Court for a plea and trial preparation hearing on January 30.
Massey is charged that on December 28 at the Tate Modern, Bankside, Southwark, without lawful excuse, damaged the painting, intending to destroy or damage the property or being reckless as to whether the property would be destroyed or damaged.
It is not believed any implement was used and little details were given, but sufficient damage was caused for the painting to be removed from display and is now with the Tate’s conservation team.
The painting was completed by Pablo Picasso on May 5, during the final weeks of the Nazi occupation of Paris and is a portrait of the photographer Dora Maar.
The Tate’s website says the reconfigured features of the subject may have been Picasso’s way of reflecting the complex atmosphere in the city at the time.
The 81cm by 65cm painting has been on long term loan to the Tate from a private collector since 2011.
A Tate spokesperson said: “An incident occurred at Tate Modern on 28 December when a member of the public attempted to damage a painting.
“The person was swiftly apprehended and has been charged. Police are investigating.
“The work of art is with our conservation team for expert assessment.”
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