Indecline’s ‘Vandalism is for Lovers’ blends art and a call to action

Thu, Feb 6, 2025 (2 a.m.)

How often does art hit so hard you can feel it in your bones, not just your brain? That’s the kind of provocative work Indecline has been making for over 20 years—no punches pulled, no apologies. The anonymous art collective have painted on freight trains, filmed documentaries and hijacked billboards. And their latest exhibit Vandalism Is for Lovers, launches this February at the Arts District’s Recycled Propaganda, calling viewers to not just observe, but to feel, to think and most importantly, to act.

“We’ve been around the better part of 20 years,” says a representative from Indecline, “and while we operate in many different cities, for a significant amount of time, we were operating in Las Vegas.”

From guerrilla actions on billboards to unsanctioned installations in the streets, Indecline’s work has always disrupted the status quo.

But this exhibit marks a shift. During this extended display, it brings together two decades of audacious art as well as new pieces—for the first time in Vegas.

“It’s rewarding,” the representative explains, “being able to hang in the wings and watch people discuss the work and get inspired in real time.”

Vandalism Is for Lovers includes pieces that helped cement Indecline’s bold reputation, like the infamous naked Trump statue titled “The Emperor Has No Balls,” and David Fay’s haunting statue paying tribute to the victims of the Route 91 shooting, “On Second Thought.”

You’ll also see contemporary pieces like “Freedom Kick,” a series of sculptures by Eugenio Merino featuring hyper-realistic heads of world leaders turned into soccer balls. It’s all framed by the collective’s broader ethos—radical, fearless and unapologetically political.

Indecline’s emphasis on activism is at the heart of this show, but the collective’s most recent work is more than just a passive viewing experience. The group has begun to open a dialogue between artists, activists and local community groups in response to November’s election.

“The thing we kept coming back to was just how apathetic people seemed to be in the wake of that election,” the rep explains. “That’s one of the most terrifying emotions to see come out of someone who could otherwise lift up their community.”

The exhibit aims to engage directly with people in the Las Vegas community with events like Speed Activism—think speed dating but with a purpose, connecting with organizations like Fifth Sun Project and Obodo Collective—and film screenings of The Art of Protest and For What It’s Worth challenging attendees to engage.

Through art, conversation, and collective action, Indecline asks viewers to not just observe, but to change. That can look like a donation for a banned-book drive, or buying a “non-Hallmark valentine” for a local cause. When art and activism collide, it can leave a lasting mark on the community.

Vandalism is for Lovers: Related Events

Feb. 7 (First Friday) Opening Night, 5 p.m.-midnight.First look at Indecline’s retrospective exhibit featuring guest DJs Factor Chandelier and Sam King of Codefendants.

Feb. 14 The Art of Protest and For What It’s Worth screenings, 7:30 p.m.-10 p.m. Double feature screening of The Art of Protest, a documentary directed by Colin M. Day and produced by Indecline that traces the history of resistance art through luminaries such as Shepard Fairey and Nadya Tolokonnikova (Pussy Riot). The documentary will be followed by a rare screening of For What It’s Worth, a Faustian allegory written and directed by Indecline.

Feb. 15 Speed Activism, 6 p.m.-8 p.m. Hosted by local actor Ryan Remark, Indecline is taking the “speed dating” model and turning it toward community organizing, mutual aid and collaboration. Attendees will spend two minutes each with five local organizations. Hopefully, by the time they leave, attendees will have a place to try out a new relationship through the act of volunteering.

Feb. 22 Side Hustles screening, 7:30 p.m.-9 p.m. A compilation of Indecline’s foray into activism in the Deep South, set to a narrative skit and including a behind-the-scenes look at some of the collective’s biggest projects in recent years.

Mar. 1 An Evening of Dangerous Literature, 7 p.m.-11 p.m. Indecline teams up with Avant Pop Books to make literature subversive again. Hosted by Shwa Laytart and featuring performances and readings by local writers and special guests, the event charges a $5 cover, which will help Avant Pop in its quest to relocate to a new location.

Mar. 7 (First Friday) Aware: A Celebration, 5 p.m.-midnight. The work and legacy of founding member, Aware, will be on display in Las Vegas for the first time as well as private pieces from the collections of friends and family.

Mar. 8 Control Alter Delete screening, 8 p.m.-9 p.m. Indecline’s latest film compilation tracks over 20 years of “billboard liberation,” behind-the-scenes footage, and news reports from its biggest actions.

VANDALISM IS FOR LOVERS February 7-March 29; Sunday-Thursday, 11 a.m.- 7 p.m.; Friday-Saturday, 11 a.m.- 9 p.m.; free. Recycled Propaganda, thisisindecline.com.

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