Just Stop Oil activists convicted for 2022 tomato soup attack on Van Gogh's Sunflowers at National Gallery

Two Just Stop Oil activists, Phoebe Plummer and Anna Holland, have been found guilty of criminal damage for throwing tomato soup at Vincent van Gogh's Sunflowers (1888) at London's National Gallery in October 2022. The attack occurred at 11am in room 43 of the gallery, where the protesters wore Just Stop Oil shirts and glued themselves to the wall after targeting the painting, which was protected by glass. During the incident, one activist questioned whether art or life held greater value, linking the action to the cost of living and oil crises that make basic necessities unaffordable for families. Both individuals were arrested for criminal damage and aggravated trespass, requiring police to de-bond them from the wall. The National Gallery reported only minor damage to the painting's frame, and the artwork was temporarily removed before being rehung. At Southwark Crown Court, Judge Christopher Hehir warned Plummer and Holland to prepare for potential imprisonment ahead of their sentencing on 27 September 2024. The conviction was reported by BBC News on 26 July 2024, marking a legal outcome from the protest that drew widespread attention.