Off the Block: Rear-End Recklessness- Art Lover’s Derrière Destroys Van Gogh’s Crystal Chair
- Thom Reaves
- Jun 25
- 6 min read
Updated: Jun 26
Well folks, it’s happened again. The selfie craze has claimed another art casualty — and this time, it was a sparkling, crystal-covered chair.
At the Palazzo Maffei museum in Verona, Italy, an eager visitor couldn’t resist getting up close and personal with Nicola Bolla’s Van Gogh Chair, a delicate sculpture entirely encrusted with Swarovski crystals. Inspired by Vincent van Gogh’s famous painting of his simple wooden chair, this glittering version was never meant to be sat on. Unfortunately, one museum guest missed that memo.
Security footage captured a middle-aged couple posing for pictures with the chair. At first, the woman cautiously hovered over the fragile piece. But then, for his moment in the spotlight, the man actually sat down — and the mostly hollow chair crumbled under his weight. The pair quickly helped each other up and hightailed it out of the gallery before staff even realized what had happened. As of now, police still haven’t identified the duo.
Museum director Vanessa Carlon spoke to the BBC, saying, “Sometimes we lose our brains to take a picture, and we don’t think about the consequences. Of course it was an accident — but leaving without telling us? That’s no accident. It’s a nightmare for any museum.”
Thankfully, after a tense few days of uncertainty, museum staff and restorers managed to bring the chair back to life. The museum shared a short video on Instagram announcing that the piece is now “shining once again.” They also issued a gentle but firm reminder to all art lovers: “Please, respect and care for the art.”
The museum, which opened in 2020, hopes this story will encourage visitors to admire artwork safely — from a respectful distance. But let’s be honest: if history has taught us anything, these photo-op-gone-wrong moments probably aren’t going anywhere any time soon.
Selfie Fails: When Culture Crashes into Crisis
In an age where capturing perfect snapshots often trumps decorum, museums and galleries have become unexpected battlegrounds — and not just over what to photograph, but what gets obliterated in the process.
A Shimmering Piece of Art— Literally
Nicola Bolla’s Van Gogh Chair at Palazzo Maffei in Verona wasn’t your average seat. Completely encrusted with hundreds of Swarovski crystals, the piece—crafted in homage to Vincent van Gogh’s 1888 chair—was breathtakingly delicate . A work of conceptual flair as well as sparkle, it carried Bolla’s signature: transforming everyday household items into dazzling yet fragile installations .
But in April 2025, a mundane gallery moment turned dramatic.
The Incident: A Selfie Gone Too Far
CCTV footage showed an empty gallery room after security walked away. A middle-aged couple entered; while the woman posed tentatively over the sculpture, her companion — egged on by a lingering selfie session — finally shamelessly sat down. The hollow, crystal-studded chair instantly collapsed under his weight .
They fled. The museum realized the damage only once they’d vanished . Museum director Vanessa Carlon lamented:
“Sometimes we lose our brains to take a picture, and we don’t think about the consequences. … Leaving without speaking to us — that isn’t an accident. This is a nightmare for any museum.”
A Fragile Work Restored— Just in Time
Initially, the museum feared the piece might be unsalvageable . But after days of painstaking restoration — aided by police and specialized conservators — the chair was returned to public display, again glimmering under gallery lights .
The museum seized the moment, launching a public-awareness campaign: “Art must be loved. It must be protected,” they urged .
A Global Pattern: Art vs. Selfie Culture
The Verona episode isn’t isolated. It’s part of a bigger, troubling tapestry.
• Los Angeles, 2017 — $200,000 Shattered
At 14th Factory in LA, a woman leaning back into a pedestal for a perfect selfie toppled an entire row of sculptures — an estimated $200,000 in damages . The incident was caught on CCTV and triggered a public outrage. As one insurer later called it, the “pandemic of selfies” had turned high-line exhibits into hazard zones .
• Milan, 2014 — Historic Marble Bust
An art student at the Brera Academy snapped a selfie with a 19th-century marble statue, accidentally breaking off the figure’s leg in the process .
• Yekaterinburg, 2018 — Goya and Dalí Downfall
Four women posing with works by Francisco Goya and Salvador Dalí backed into a temporary wall, sending pieces crashing to the floor . Though the paintings were damaged, restoration efforts helped avoid a complete loss.
• Taipei, 2022 — Ancient Painting Torn
A 12-year-old boy at Huashan Creative Park tripped and ruptured a Paolo Porpora masterpiece valued at $1.5 million — again captured on video .
• Madrid, 2022 — Ballet Set Sabotaged
At Madrid’s Museo Reina Sofía, a selfie-taking visitor inadvertently damaged part of Alberto Sánchez’s ballet set, which required immediate repair
Why Selfies Are Art’s Arch-Nemesis
1. Distraction Over Discipline
Smartphone screen focus frequently overrides spatial awareness. Studies cited by insurer Hiscox found selfie-takers are much more likely to bump into exhibits than regular visitors .
2. Temptation Meets Tactics
Social media trends — from #MuseumMonday to #ArtSelfie — create pressure to capture distinct, flashy images. Interactive exhibits and “Instagrammable” designs blur boundaries about what visitors can and can’t touch.
3. Lax Oversight
As seen in Verona, unsupervised gallery spaces are ripe for misuse. Even simple barriers or subtle reminders can deter risky behavior — yet museums often aim for laissez-faire sophistication over overt security .
4. Cultural Blind Spots
Some visitors may simply not grasp why they shouldn’t touch or sit on artwork — especially when it looks like a chair or bench. Clashing cultural expectations often lead to unintentional catastrophes
Consequences and Costs
🏺 Financial Toll
Restoration can be exorbitantly expensive. In LA, costs soared to $200K . Even if insurance covers it, the money comes from budgets that could fund exhibitions or educational programs.
🕰️ Irreplaceable Heritage
Not all art survives these encounters. Historic originals, ancient artifacts, and experimental installations risk irreversible damage — wiping out centuries in seconds.
📷 Policy Overhauls
In response, some museums have banned selfies or introduced stricter no-touch rules. But smartphones are powerful, and the allure of a viral image is hard to resist
Prevention: Smarter Museums & Savvier Visitors
• Signage That Works
Clear, visible reminders — “Don’t Touch,” “No Sitting,” “Stay Behind Rope” — help. Verona’s signages evidently failed to deter the sitting visitor .
• Subtle Barriers
Alarmed pedestals, glass cases, and floor markings maintain distance without compromising aesthetics.
• Staffed Presence
Even a single guard or volunteer can discourage risky photo behavior. Presence equals accountability.
• Educational Campaigns
Palazzo Maffei’s post-collapse Instagram campaign targeted selfie culture. Coupled with informative placards, such messaging could reshape norms .
• Interactive Alternatives
Offering sanctioned, photo-friendly installations or official backdrops lets visitors engage without risking priceless items.
The Verona Lesson
The Van Gogh Chair incident provides both drama and clarity about modern cultural clashes:
• A visually stunning piece became an unintended victim.
• Security gaps fostered the impulse.
• A rushed selfie resulted in shattered art — and shattered trust.
• Restoration saved the day, but the lesson remains: vigilance matters.
Final Thoughts
Selfies aren’t going away. Millennials, Gen Z, and even seasoned travelers want shareable moments. But the cost is high if the art crashes because the selfie wins.
Museums must adapt: invest in protection, signage, staff, and public education. Visitors, too, have a role: respect spaces and objects, stay alert, and remember — the best shot is one that leaves both ego and artwork intact.
In Verona, the Van Gogh Chair now shines again, a little more precious — and a little wiser. Let it serve as a sparkling reminder that art is meant to be admired, not sat upon.
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