London, United Kingdom – On April 27, 2026, two supporters of the Take Back Power campaign carried out an action inside Sotheby’s during an Orientalist art pre-auction exhibition.

At around 11:15 in the morning, the pair covered a painting with an image of Nigel Farage’s face. The image included the text “Nigel for sale: £100,000- bought by Sotheby’s”. The artwork that was covered is King Wilhelm I’s Arabian Stallion ‘Tursi’ by Friedrich Nerly, expected to sell for between £80,000 and £120,000.

By around 11:35, security removed the two individuals from the building. Police did not arrive at the scene. Around midday, they attempted to hand themselves in at Charing Cross police station. No arrests have been made.

Take Back Power is a nonviolent campaign calling for a tax on extreme wealth, to be decided by a “House of the People,” a citizen’s assembly chosen by democratic lottery.

Sotheby’s describes itself as the “world’s premier destination for art and luxury”. Its luxury real estate arm, Sotheby’s Realty, is said to have donated £100,000 to Reform.

A spokesperson for Take Back Power said: “Reform claims to be on the side of working people. If that were true, why would the ‘world’s premier destination for art and luxury’, be giving them a donation of £100,000 in exchange for yet more tax breaks on the super rich if they get into power?”

The spokesperson added that Reform is backed by corporations and wealthy interests and called for redistribution of wealth and power toward working people.

One participant, Elvis, a delivery driver from Bolton, said the action highlighted corruption and inequality, pointing to the £100,000 donation and saying many families struggle daily.

Another participant, Jimmy, a 74-year-old retired NGO worker from London, said wealthy tax avoidance is enabled by loopholes and offshore accounts. He called for a permanent citizen-led assembly to decide on taxing extreme wealth.

Reform is said to be supported by wealthy donors and corporations, including crypto-billionaire Christopher Harborne, Claudia Harmsworth, and Interior Architecture Landscape.

The campaign continues to demand a permanent “House of the People” with the power to tax extreme wealth.

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