Woman accused over art attack

A 36-year-old woman was accused of causing $10,000 worth of damage to a painting valued at between $30m and $40m by punching it, scratching it, and sliding her bare buttocks against it while urinating.

The oil painting, Clyfford Still's 1957-J no 2, was on show at the recently opened museum dedicated to the artist in Denver, Colorado.

Carmen Tisch was charged with criminal mischief on Wednesday and has been held on a $20,000 bond since the incident in late December. But she did appear to be safe over the urination issue. "It doesn't appear she urinated on the painting or that the urine damaged it, so she's not being charged with that," a police spokeswoman said.