Vladimir Umanets has been jailed for 2 years The Polish man who defaced a $15 million Mark Rothko painting at London's Tate Modern gallery with black marker has been sentenced to two years in jail. Wlodzimierz Umaniec, also known as Vladimir Umanets, is a follower of an obscure artistic movement called yellowism. On October 7 he signed his name and the words “A Potential Piece of Yellowism” in black ink on the artwork, which experts say will require a $300,000 restoration which will take at least a year and a half.
The 26-year-old self-proclaimed artist pleaded guilty to criminal damage of over $8,000, the Associated Press reports.
"Complications to this work include the unique painting technique used by the artist and the fact the ink used by Mr Umaniec has permeated the paint layers and the canvas itself," Prosecution lawyer Gregor McKinley told AP.
When sentencing Umaniec Crown Court Judge Roger Chapple called the deed "wholly and utterly unacceptable."
The Tate Modern said in a statement that it was "pleased that the court has recognized the severity of this incident and its consequences."