art activism - The Art of the Prank

July 17, 2026

Collecting Rain Water for the Reflecting Pool

If it was gold, he would have taken it.

Giant Iran War ‘Participation Trophy’ For Trump Appears On National Mall, by Jennifer Bendery, Huffpost, July 13, 2026.

Anonymous artists installed a 10-foot monument satirically honoring Trump for starting a war with no “military strategy, diplomacy, or measurable outcomes.”

WASHINGTON — A 10-foot “participation trophy” magically appeared on the National Mall early Monday to satirically honor President Donald Trump for unilaterally starting a war in Iran with no strategy, no stated goals and no plan on how to get the United States out of it.

“We hereby award President Donald J. Trump this participation trophy for his enthusiastic involvement in the Iran War,” reads a plaque on the faux monument, which was installed in the wee hours near the MLK Memorial Bookstore. “While some concern themselves with military strategy, diplomacy, or measurable outcomes, President Trump demonstrated the courage to participate regardless of the final score.” Read the whole article here.

April 1, 2026

Gothamist covers Joey Skaggs’ 41st Annual April Fools’ Day Parade

New York City’s greatest pranks, from fantastical parades to a phony Mets star, by Samantha Max, Gothamist, April 1, 2026

Trump’s Military Parade at the 33rd Annual April Fools’ Day Parade

Artist and activist Joey Skaggs has been inviting members of the New York City media to his annual April Fools’ Day parade along Fifth Avenue since 1986.

Press releases archived on Skaggs’ website describe the event as an attempt to “bring people back in touch with their inherent foolishness” and celebrate “the public’s right to laugh in the face of authority.” Past parades have included a President Donald Trump look-alike contest and a Y2K-themed end-of-the-world party. This year’s press release invites participants to ponder “what’s real and what’s not” at a parade led by the president himself, followed by a screening of the “Melania mockumentary” and a reading of all redacted names in the Jeffrey Epstein files, other than victims.

Read the rest of the article here.

March 25, 2026March 25, 2026

Media Alert: New York City’s 41st Annual April Fools’ Day Parade, 2026 – Details

The New York April Fools’ Committee Proudly Announces
NEW YORK CITY’S 41st ANNUAL APRIL FOOLS’ DAY PARADE, 2026

“What’s Real and What’s Not”

Photo from the 33rd Annual April Fools’ Day Parade, 2018

WHAT:
An emergency civic drill disguised as a parade. The public is invited to participate in or out of costume, with or without a float.

WHEN:
Wednesday, April 1, 2026
Noon Assembly | Step-off shortly after

WHERE:
– Assembly: Fifth Avenue & 59th Street
– Route: Fifth Avenue (brief stop at Trump Tower)
– Finale: Washington Square Park

WHO:
– Self-appointed Grand Marshal: President Donald J. Trump
– Theme Song: “Don’t Worry, Be Happy”
– Marching Band: Recently pardoned January 6 participants

WHY:
Because truth is optional, elections are negotiable, and democracy is now a limited-time offer.

VISUALS:
– Collapsed Statue of Liberty float
– Rusted “Drill Baby Drill” oil derrick
– AI oracle dispensing nonsense
– Barbed-wire cage to collect illegals along the route
– Flyover confetti drop of shredded Constitution
– Demolition Derby with celebrity and political look-alikes on e-bikes

WASHINGTON SQUARE PARK FINALE:
– Crowning of the King of Fools
– Recalled Food BBQ
– Immunization Lottery
– Greenland Resettlement Kiosk
– Public reading of all formerly redacted names from the Epstein Files

SPONSORS:
Select billionaire members of the President’s Board of Peace

PARADE ANNOUNCEMENT
PARADE ANNOUNCEMENT VIDEO

CONTACT:
Joey Skaggs, Committee Chair
212-254-7878 | info@joeyskaggs.com
aprilfoolsdayparade.com

March 13, 2026

Going Down!

Don’t drop the soap!

A Statue of Trump and Epstein Re-enacting ‘Titanic’ Pose Appears on National Mall, by Ashley Ahn, The New York Times, March 12, 2026

The installation is the latest in a series of satirical statues created by an anonymous group of artists called the Secret Handshake.

A gold-colored statue inspired by the “Titanic” pose has appeared on the National Mall — but instead of portraying Jack supporting Rose from behind as she pretends to fly, it depicts President Trump and the deceased sex offender Jeffrey Epstein.

A plaque at the statue’s base read: “The tragic love story between Jack and Rose was built on luxurious travel, raucous parties, and secret nude sketches. This monument honors the bond between Donald Trump and Jeffrey Epstein, a friendship seemingly built on luxurious travel, raucous parties and secret nude sketches.”

The statue, which appeared Tuesday and shows Mr. Trump gazing at Mr. Epstein as he held his outstretched arms, is the latest in a series of satirical statues that have appeared in Washington since October 2024, just before the presidential election. Many of the installations, including this one influenced by the movie “Titanic” and Mr. Trump’s friendship with Epstein, were created by an anonymous group of artists called The Secret Handshake. Read the whole article here.