On December 29, 2011, Tisch walked into the Denver museum in an intoxicated state, saw the painting of abstract expressionist Clyfford Still at the museum and somehow became enraged. She punched and scratched the painting named “1957-J No. 2,” then pulled down her pants and slid her buttocks against the costly painting. After that she urinated before the abstract art on the museum floor.
The painting was by North Dakota-born Clyfford Still who is one of the most influential post-World War Two American abstract expressionist artists, though not as famous as Jackson Pollock. Still died in 1980, and Denver authorities worked with his widow to create a single-artist museum featuring his works. Upon Patricia’s death, she left her husband’s collection to the city.
Four of Still’s works were auctioned by Sotheby’s in 2011 for $114 million to endow the museum, and the Denver authorities find it difficult to digest any damage to such potentially big sources of income.
Early this month, Carmen Tisch had pleaded guilty to felony criminal mischief for leaning against the oil-on-canvas painting, and for striking at it.