Bronx Art Installation Sparks Controversy Over $407K Price Tag and Professor's Past Assault

Shellyne Rodriguez defends her taxpayer-funded 'Phoenix Ladder' monument, but critics slam it as 'junk' and point to her history of violence.

Mar. 3, 2026 at 6:39am

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Shellyne Rodriguez, a former CUNY professor who previously assaulted a New York Post reporter with a machete, has sparked controversy over her new $407,000 taxpayer-funded public art installation in the Bronx. Rodriguez painted herself as a victim in a recent column, claiming her 'Phoenix Ladder: Monument to the People of the Bronx' is being attacked by 'fascist' and 'right-wing' forces. However, many local residents have criticized the 23-foot-tall brick, steel and terracotta structure as an eyesore, with one calling it 'a piece of junk.' Rodriguez, a self-proclaimed black Marxist, received an $81,400 'artist fee' as part of the project, which was commissioned through the city's Percent for Arts program.

Why it matters

This case highlights the ongoing debate over public funding for controversial art projects, as well as concerns about the use of taxpayer money and the vetting process for artists with histories of violence or extremist views. It also raises questions about the city's oversight of the Percent for Arts program and whether it adequately considers an artist's background and potential for public backlash.

The details

Rodriguez's 'Phoenix Ladder' monument was unveiled in November 2025 along the Grand Concourse in the Bronx as part of a $62.5 million reconstruction project. The structure features images of a phoenix, piercing eyes, clenched fists, and a black ladder without an end, which Rodriguez claims represents the borough's resilience. However, many local residents have criticized the artwork as an eyesore. In a recent column, Rodriguez defended the project, claiming it is being attacked by 'fascist' and 'right-wing' forces, but she failed to mention her 2023 assault on a New York Post reporter with a machete, for which she received a plea deal.

  • In May 2023, Rodriguez made headlines for attacking pro-life students at Hunter College, where she was an adjunct art professor.
  • In 2023, Rodriguez assaulted New York Post reporter Reuven Fenton with a machete at her Bronx apartment.
  • In November 2025, Rodriguez's 'Phoenix Ladder' monument was unveiled along the Grand Concourse in the Bronx.
  • In February 2024, Rodriguez was fired from a teaching position at Cooper Union for her anti-Israel screeds.

The players

Shellyne Rodriguez

A former CUNY professor who received $407,000 in taxpayer funding for her controversial public art installation 'Phoenix Ladder: Monument to the People of the Bronx.' Rodriguez is a self-proclaimed black Marxist who has a history of violence, including assaulting a New York Post reporter with a machete in 2023.

Reuven Fenton

A New York Post reporter who was assaulted by Shellyne Rodriguez with a machete in 2023 while attempting to interview her about an incident at Hunter College.

Frankie Santiago

A Bronx resident who criticized Rodriguez's 'Phoenix Ladder' monument, calling it 'a piece of junk.'

New York City Department of Cultural Affairs

The city agency that oversees the Percent for Arts program, which provided funding for Rodriguez's 'Phoenix Ladder' monument, but has refused to comment on her controversial past or whether her budget was reconsidered after the machete assault.

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What they’re saying

“It looks like a piece of junk.”

— Frankie Santiago, Bronx Resident

“This is not my first encounter with the tabloid, but a continuation of a targeted attack, which has everything to do with the fascist seizure of life that is all our reality now, but for Black, Indigenous, and colonized people globally has always been present, albeit at simmering temperatures.”

— Shellyne Rodriguez

What’s next

The New York City Department of Cultural Affairs has not indicated whether it will reconsider the funding for Rodriguez's 'Phoenix Ladder' monument in light of her past violent behavior and the ongoing public backlash against the artwork.

The takeaway

This controversy highlights the need for greater scrutiny and oversight of public art projects, especially those involving artists with histories of violence or extremist views. It also raises questions about the city's commitment to funding meaningful, community-driven public art versus controversial, divisive installations that alienate local residents.