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“Jeffrey Epstein Walk of Shame” Installation Surfaces in Washington, DC
A guerrilla artwork featuring stars for prominent individuals mentioned in the Epstein files has appeared in Farragut Square, sparking controversy and conversation.
A “star” for MoMA trustee Leon Black in the “Jeffrey Epstein Walk of Shame” in Washington, DC (all photos Emma Cieslik/Hyperallergic)
WASHINGTON, DC — A provocative art installation titled the “Jeffrey Epstein Walk of Shame” has surfaced in Farragut Square, located near the White House, on Sunday, March 1. This guerrilla artwork features waterproof stickers resembling the terrazzo stars of the Hollywood Walk of Fame, each bearing the likeness of Jeffrey Epstein along with the names of politicians, billionaires, arts patrons, and other prominent figures mentioned in the recently released Epstein files.
Among the approximately 20 individuals named in the installation are Epstein himself, his associate Ghislaine Maxwell, arts patron Les Wexner, Museum of Modern Art trustee Leon Black, Supreme Court Justice Clarence Thomas, Microsoft co-founder Bill Gates, film producer Harvey Weinstein, former Prince Andrew, and former President Bill Clinton. Each star includes a QR code linking to either evidence connecting the individual to Epstein or to the Department of Justice’s Epstein Library. The identity of the artist or group responsible for the installation remains unknown at this time.
The stickers are strategically placed on the sidewalks surrounding the bronze statue of David Glasgow Farragut, a Union naval commander during the Civil War. Created in 1881 by artist Vinnie Ream, who also sculpted the marble statue of Abraham Lincoln in the Capitol Rotunda, the sculpture serves as a backdrop for the controversial installation.
During an investigation by Hyperallergic, it was discovered that the star bearing Elon Musk’s name had been partially torn off, although the QR code linking to a 2012 email exchange between Epstein and Musk remained intact. Musk’s star reportedly disappeared shortly after the installation in Farragut Square. Passersby declined to comment on the artwork when approached by Hyperallergic.
This installation is not the first instance of protest art related to the Epstein files in Washington, DC. In January, a 10-foot-tall (~3-meter-tall) Epstein birthday card featuring Donald Trump’s signature and a lewd outline of a woman’s body was displayed on the National Mall. Additionally, a sculpture depicting Trump and Epstein holding hands has appeared multiple times on the National Mall, created by Secret Handshake, a local resistance artist collective.
Hyperallergic has reached out to Secret Handshake for comment on their involvement in the project and to the National Parks Service regarding permits for public artworks.
