Nude public shoot declared art not lewd

A New York judge has dismissed public lewdness and other charges made against a model who posed for a nude photo shoot at a museum while visitors looked on.

Kathleen "K.C." Neill, 26, was arrested in August during photographer Zach Hyman's shoot in the arms and armour department at the Metropolitan Museum of Art.

On the day in question, the pair went to the museum and at what Hyman thought was an appropriate moment, Neill shed her dress and the photographer got to work reports The Guardian.

Seconds later Neill donned her clothes and Hyman handed the film to an aide.

But after the shoot, a female guard followed Neill to the front of the museum, where another guard physically prevented the model from leaving, Hyman said.

Police were then summoned and Hyman was released while Neill was handcuffed and taken away in a police car.

Defence lawyer Thomas J. Hillgardner says Neill did nothing indecent while posing in an institution full of depictions of nudes.

He says she was making art and he noted court rulings saying public nakedness isn't necessarily lewd.

Prosecutors say they were not sure they could prove the charges beyond reasonable doubt.

The museum had no immediate comment.

Hyman, 22, had called the charges "completely absurd".

"There are sculptures of nude men and women in there (the Met). There are paintings of nude men and women in there. They're talking about children in there and seeing this happen and how awful it is. Then don't bring your kids to the Met," he said.

Hyman says he has shot nudes in Times Square, the subway, a church and other public spaces without complaint.

The photographs were taken as part of a series to go on display at New York's Chair and the Maiden gallery.

Hyman has photographed both men and women for his project, but says women are easier.

"People see a naked woman and they smile," he said. "They see a penis and they freak out."

- NZ HERALD STAFF