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Art the Clown crowd surfing in a blood-soaked gown over a Rockville festival crowd

Welcome to Rockville, Louder Than Life, Aftershock

SAVEART THECLOWN

You screamed with him in the pit. You got the picture. He's in a hospital bed right now, in critical condition — and his family is staring down the bills alone.

Donate on GoFundMe →
HE MADE YOU LAUGH ✦ NOW HE NEEDS YOU ✦ EVERY DOLLAR COUNTS ✦ SAVE THE CLOWN ✦ HE MADE YOU LAUGH ✦ NOW HE NEEDS YOU ✦ EVERY DOLLAR COUNTS ✦ SAVE THE CLOWN ✦ HE MADE YOU LAUGH ✦ NOW HE NEEDS YOU ✦ EVERY DOLLAR COUNTS ✦ SAVE THE CLOWN ✦ HE MADE YOU LAUGH ✦ NOW HE NEEDS YOU ✦ EVERY DOLLAR COUNTS ✦ SAVE THE CLOWN ✦ HE MADE YOU LAUGH ✦ NOW HE NEEDS YOU ✦ EVERY DOLLAR COUNTS ✦ SAVE THE CLOWN ✦ HE MADE YOU LAUGH ✦ NOW HE NEEDS YOU ✦ EVERY DOLLAR COUNTS ✦ SAVE THE CLOWN ✦

Everybody
knows him.

No band, no stage, no backstage pass. Just a man in ruined greasepaint who turned up at every festival and made a field full of strangers feel like one crowd. He never asked for a dollar. He just handed out chaos and let anyone take the photo.

“If you've got a picture with the clown — you owe him one favor.”

Art the Clown crowd surfing over the hands of a festival audience
Right now

The paint came off.

Behind the mask is Aleksandr Nalivaiko.

Off the festival grounds, Aleksandr works as a truck driver to support his family. What should have been just another day at work turned into a life-changing tragedy.

He suffered a severe brain bleed, multiple facial injuries, three broken ribs, and a punctured lung. He is currently unable to breathe on his own and remains in critical condition as doctors prepare for surgery.

He never asked for anything while giving everything to this community. Today, he needs us. If you can help, every single dollar brings hope to Aleksandr and his family.

Aleksandr Nalivaiko out of costume, smiling in the ocean under a pier
Aleksandr in costume sitting with his family and friends at the festival
Aleksandr in costume holding his young son at the speedwayAleksandr out of costume with his wife and son in front of a painted bus

There is a family behind the makeup.

Aleksandr has a wife, a son, and a daughter. Right now, they're spending every day by his hospital bed, hoping for good news and doing everything they can to help him recover.

Aleksandr has always been the one providing for his family. While he fights for his life, every medical bill and every household expense now falls on the people who love him most.

Every donation goes to them — treatment, travel, rent, keeping the lights on while he fights.

Live tally

How far we've got

STATRAISEDDONORSGOAL●
$0

Raised of $20,000 USD goal

24.2% complete

▸ Add to the total
SYNC --:--:--144 DONATIONSONLINE

Numbers pulled live from the GoFundMe page

You know him

Say it: you'vemet this clown.

See more photos →
Art the Clown screaming into the camera at dusk with the ferris wheel behind himArt the Clown with a fan under the Rockville archArt the Clown throwing up a peace sign with a laughing fan under red lightsArt the Clown photobombing two friends' night selfie in the crowdArt the Clown posing with a fan in the sunny festival parking lotArt the Clown leaning on a fan in a bucket hat by the Rockville entranceArt the Clown choking a screaming fan for a joke photo by the food trucksA bearded fan grabbing Art the Clown by the collar at duskLouder Than Life poster: Art the Clown between two fansWelcome to Rockville 2026 poster — Hang! Hack! Slash! Kill!Art the Clown crashing a selfie with two friends inside the merch hallArt the Clown grabbing a laughing fan's throat in the night crowdArt the Clown staring down a fan under green and purple lightsArt the Clown with a fan holding a crossbow at Daytona SpeedwayBlue-hour selfie: Art the Clown with a fan with purple braidsArt the Clown hugging a fan with green braids under the ferris wheel at nightA kid carrying Art the Clown on his back in the daytime crowdArt the Clown with a bloody blade next to a laughing fan in a bucket hat at RockvilleSelfie: Art the Clown with a fan in a 'F*ck Cancer' cap by the ferris wheelArt the Clown holding a blade to a fan's neck for a photo at the gatesArt the Clown grabbing a fan's throat in front of the lit ferris wheel at nightWelcome to Rockville 2026 poster: 'I wished I was dead' — Art was hereArt the Clown in the crowd at a Welcome to Rockville after-party setGolden-hour selfie: Art the Clown behind a smiling fan in a red tie-dye shirtWelcome to Rockville poster: Art the Clown crashing a group selfie by the archWelcome to Rockville poster: Art the Clown grabbing a laughing fan in the grandstandNight selfie: Art the Clown holding a blade under a fan with green hairWelcome to Rockville 'Raised on Music' poster: Art the Clown with a smiling kid in the crowdArt the Clown leaning cheek to cheek with a laughing fan in a capBright blue-sky selfie: Art the Clown behind a grinning fan in sunglassesNight parking lot: Art the Clown posing with a fan in sunflower glasses outside the stadiumGroup selfie: Art the Clown between two grinning fans in the festival crowdArt the Clown grabbing a fan sticking her tongue out by the food stands at DaytonaArt the Clown hugging a fan in blue shades in front of the Rockville main stageNight selfie: Art the Clown screaming with two clown-painted fansArt the Clown headlocked by a fan in a hockey mask next to a fan in a Rockville jerseyArt the Clown resting in the shade of a tent with festival friendsWelcome to Rockville poster: 'I wished I was dead' — Art the Clown with a fan in the night crowdCrowd selfie: Art the Clown with a fan in a straw cowboy hat under the tentArt the Clown crowd-surfing over a sea of hands in a dark venue
Art the Clown screaming into the camera at dusk with the ferris wheel behind himArt the Clown with a fan under the Rockville archArt the Clown throwing up a peace sign with a laughing fan under red lightsArt the Clown photobombing two friends' night selfie in the crowdArt the Clown posing with a fan in the sunny festival parking lotArt the Clown leaning on a fan in a bucket hat by the Rockville entranceArt the Clown choking a screaming fan for a joke photo by the food trucksA bearded fan grabbing Art the Clown by the collar at duskLouder Than Life poster: Art the Clown between two fansWelcome to Rockville 2026 poster — Hang! Hack! Slash! Kill!Art the Clown crashing a selfie with two friends inside the merch hallArt the Clown grabbing a laughing fan's throat in the night crowdArt the Clown staring down a fan under green and purple lightsArt the Clown with a fan holding a crossbow at Daytona SpeedwayBlue-hour selfie: Art the Clown with a fan with purple braidsArt the Clown hugging a fan with green braids under the ferris wheel at nightA kid carrying Art the Clown on his back in the daytime crowdArt the Clown with a bloody blade next to a laughing fan in a bucket hat at RockvilleSelfie: Art the Clown with a fan in a 'F*ck Cancer' cap by the ferris wheelArt the Clown holding a blade to a fan's neck for a photo at the gatesArt the Clown grabbing a fan's throat in front of the lit ferris wheel at nightWelcome to Rockville 2026 poster: 'I wished I was dead' — Art was hereArt the Clown in the crowd at a Welcome to Rockville after-party setGolden-hour selfie: Art the Clown behind a smiling fan in a red tie-dye shirtWelcome to Rockville poster: Art the Clown crashing a group selfie by the archWelcome to Rockville poster: Art the Clown grabbing a laughing fan in the grandstandNight selfie: Art the Clown holding a blade under a fan with green hairWelcome to Rockville 'Raised on Music' poster: Art the Clown with a smiling kid in the crowdArt the Clown leaning cheek to cheek with a laughing fan in a capBright blue-sky selfie: Art the Clown behind a grinning fan in sunglassesNight parking lot: Art the Clown posing with a fan in sunflower glasses outside the stadiumGroup selfie: Art the Clown between two grinning fans in the festival crowdArt the Clown grabbing a fan sticking her tongue out by the food stands at DaytonaArt the Clown hugging a fan in blue shades in front of the Rockville main stageNight selfie: Art the Clown screaming with two clown-painted fansArt the Clown headlocked by a fan in a hockey mask next to a fan in a Rockville jerseyArt the Clown resting in the shade of a tent with festival friendsWelcome to Rockville poster: 'I wished I was dead' — Art the Clown with a fan in the night crowdCrowd selfie: Art the Clown with a fan in a straw cowboy hat under the tentArt the Clown crowd-surfing over a sea of hands in a dark venue
Art the Clown posing near the stage while a band playsNight selfie: Art the Clown with two fans in the crowdFan in a wheelchair crowd-surfing over the pit at the main stageArt the Clown grabbing a fan's throat in front of the rainbow ferris wheelSunset: Art the Clown holding a drink and posing with a smiling fanWelcome to Rockville poster: 'I wished I was dead' selfie with Art the ClownGolden hour: Art the Clown walking the barricade ramp above the festival crowdWelcome to Rockville 2026 poster: Art the Clown, the Mosh Maid and a fan with a bannerRed-lit bar selfie: Art the Clown with a fan in a backwards capNight crowd: Art the Clown hugging a laughing fan in leopard printGolden-hour selfie: Art the Clown with a glittered fan by the ferris wheelWelcome to Rockville poster: Art the Clown with a fan outside the Dive Bar stageDaytime selfie: Art the Clown choking a laughing fan in sunglassesArt the Clown throwing horns with a fan with purple hair in the parking lot at nightArt the Clown standing with a young fan on the field at nightArt the Clown posing with a fan in a straw hat by the food trucks on a blue-sky dayNight selfie: Art the Clown choking a laughing woman next to her friendArt the Clown with a blade at a fan's throat at Daytona SpeedwayWelcome to Rockville poster: Hang! Hack! Slash! Kill! with Art and a fanPacked crowd selfie: Art the Clown squeezing in with three fansArt the Clown grabbing a fan's throat in the night crowd under stage lightsArt the Clown between a dad and his son, all throwing horns at duskArt the Clown with his hand on a fan's throat under a stormy sunset skyLow-angle shot of Art the Clown handing a fan a drink at sunsetBlue-hour selfie: Art the Clown leaning into a fan in a backwards capArt the Clown between two fans throwing horns in the speedway crowdArt the Clown hugging a screaming bearded fan on the night fieldArt the Clown cheek to cheek with a fan throwing horns on the fieldArt the Clown throwing horns with two fans in the sunny parking lotArt the Clown hanging off a fan's shoulder at night by the big tentWelcome to Rockville poster featuring Art the Clown in the crowdWelcome to Rockville poster featuring Art the Clown with a young fan throwing hornsLouder Than Life poster: Art the Clown with a fan, 'Art was here'A fan carrying Art the Clown in his arms in the middle of the crowd at sunsetArt the Clown with a bloody blade leaning into a fan's selfie in the parking lotArt the Clown with his gloved hand on a laughing fan's throat at blue hourNight selfie: Art the Clown headlocking a screaming fan under red lightsArt the Clown with a fan in a flamingo shirt on the festival fieldArt the Clown posing with a fan under an orange sunset in the festival lotArt the Clown grabbing a green-haired fan for a selfie at Daytona Speedway
Art the Clown posing near the stage while a band playsNight selfie: Art the Clown with two fans in the crowdFan in a wheelchair crowd-surfing over the pit at the main stageArt the Clown grabbing a fan's throat in front of the rainbow ferris wheelSunset: Art the Clown holding a drink and posing with a smiling fanWelcome to Rockville poster: 'I wished I was dead' selfie with Art the ClownGolden hour: Art the Clown walking the barricade ramp above the festival crowdWelcome to Rockville 2026 poster: Art the Clown, the Mosh Maid and a fan with a bannerRed-lit bar selfie: Art the Clown with a fan in a backwards capNight crowd: Art the Clown hugging a laughing fan in leopard printGolden-hour selfie: Art the Clown with a glittered fan by the ferris wheelWelcome to Rockville poster: Art the Clown with a fan outside the Dive Bar stageDaytime selfie: Art the Clown choking a laughing fan in sunglassesArt the Clown throwing horns with a fan with purple hair in the parking lot at nightArt the Clown standing with a young fan on the field at nightArt the Clown posing with a fan in a straw hat by the food trucks on a blue-sky dayNight selfie: Art the Clown choking a laughing woman next to her friendArt the Clown with a blade at a fan's throat at Daytona SpeedwayWelcome to Rockville poster: Hang! Hack! Slash! Kill! with Art and a fanPacked crowd selfie: Art the Clown squeezing in with three fansArt the Clown grabbing a fan's throat in the night crowd under stage lightsArt the Clown between a dad and his son, all throwing horns at duskArt the Clown with his hand on a fan's throat under a stormy sunset skyLow-angle shot of Art the Clown handing a fan a drink at sunsetBlue-hour selfie: Art the Clown leaning into a fan in a backwards capArt the Clown between two fans throwing horns in the speedway crowdArt the Clown hugging a screaming bearded fan on the night fieldArt the Clown cheek to cheek with a fan throwing horns on the fieldArt the Clown throwing horns with two fans in the sunny parking lotArt the Clown hanging off a fan's shoulder at night by the big tentWelcome to Rockville poster featuring Art the Clown in the crowdWelcome to Rockville poster featuring Art the Clown with a young fan throwing hornsLouder Than Life poster: Art the Clown with a fan, 'Art was here'A fan carrying Art the Clown in his arms in the middle of the crowd at sunsetArt the Clown with a bloody blade leaning into a fan's selfie in the parking lotArt the Clown with his gloved hand on a laughing fan's throat at blue hourNight selfie: Art the Clown headlocking a screaming fan under red lightsArt the Clown with a fan in a flamingo shirt on the festival fieldArt the Clown posing with a fan under an orange sunset in the festival lotArt the Clown grabbing a green-haired fan for a selfie at Daytona Speedway

Find yourself here.

Dig up your photo with him, post it on your socials with #savearttheclown and paste the fundraiser link. One post from you reaches people we never will.

Hall of legendary pictures

YOUR TURNTO SHOW UP

The price of a festival beer keeps a family standing. Give what you've got, then send this to every person who ever posted a photo with him.

★ Give to the GoFundMe ★

Every dollar goes straight to his family

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