Activist and artist Scott LoBaido created a bronze-patinated statue of a hand with its middle finger raised, facing New York City Hall in protest of Mayor Zohran Mamdani last week.
The piece, titled Vaffanculo (Italian for "f*** you"), was placed last Monday, and there has yet to be an official response from local authorities or Mamdani himself about the statue and its future.
LoBaido has previously used his art to protest city policies in New York, including protesting congestion pricing by mounting a vehicle and holding up a large middle-finger sign to cameras at Columbus Circle, leading to his arrest in January 2025.
Additionally, he once threw pizzas over the gates of City Hall in protest of restrictions on coal and wood-fired ovens.
LoBaido makes art centered around the American flag, right-wing icons
LoBaido, a Staten Island native, is known for his flag-themed paintings, as well as political art and acts of protest. He has described himself as a “freedom fighter” and has works celebrating US President Donald Trump, late right-wing commentator Charlie Kirk, hockey player Jack Hughes, and more.
He has also made pieces targeting previous New York City officials, including former Mayor Bill de Blasio and the Manhattan district attorney.