Anne Imhof's 'Wish You Were Gay' billboards vandalized in Bregenz

Six billboards created by German artist Anne Imhof in Bregenz, Austria, were vandalized. The billboards, designed with London-based agency Zak Group, displayed the phrase 'Wish You Were Gay' and were part of a public art tradition at Kunsthaus Bregenz. Imhof, whose exhibition of the same title runs through 22 September at Kunsthaus Bregenz, condemned the act as violent aggression and a hate crime targeting LGBTQ+ communities. She emphasized that destroying these billboards, which have been a museum tradition since 1997, attacks both public art and the Bregenz community. Kunsthaus Bregenz director Thomas Trummer called it a cowardly attack on art and human rights, stating homophobia has no place in society. Imhof confirmed the damaged billboards will be replaced. The incident occurs amid a rise in far-right influence in Austria, highlighted by the Freedom Party's success in recent EU elections ahead of national parliament elections this Autumn.