An ex-CUNY professor who once held a machete to the neck of a New York Post reporter now has a taxpayer-funded art installation in the Bronx.
Shellyne Rodriguez, known for her infamous past, received a $407,000 budget from the NYC Department of Cultural Affairs for her 23-foot-tall monument called “Phoenix Ladder: Monument to the People of the Bronx.”
Despite her violent history, the city approved the installation, which features images of a phoenix, eyes, fists symbolizing black power, and the letters “B” and “X.” The structure also includes an ascending black ladder without an end.
The monument, part of the Percent for Art program, was unveiled in November and is meant to symbolize the Bronx’s resilience after the turmoil of the 1970s.
Residents have criticized the piece, calling it a polarizing eyesore and questioning the use of taxpayer money for an artist with a violent past.
Despite the controversy, Rodriguez defended her work as a reflection of marginalized communities’ history and future aspirations.
Her violent encounter with the New York Post reporter in 2023 led to her pleading guilty to menacing and harassment charges. She received counseling and avoided jail time through a plea deal.
The NYC Department of Cultural Affairs declined to comment on Rodriguez’s past or the cracks already visible in the monument’s foundation. They assured that routine maintenance would address any issues.
Rodriguez, who was fired from Hunter College and Cooper Union following her violent outburst, did not respond to requests for comment.
