A pretty distracting art exhibit was put on display in New York City’s Time Square on Friday when a painter began painting the nearly naked body of a 23-year-old model in in broad daylight. Read more and see the full pics after the jump!!

@ItsLukieBaby

(DailyMail)–Painter Andy Golub caused a stir when he had 23-year-old model Marla Mera undress, and began slathering paint on her body.

Mr Golub and Ms Mera showed up just before noon on Broadway near West 43rd Street, in the centre of the city’s glittering theatre district.

It is legal for women to go topless in New York City.

But the New York Post reports that police stepped in and asked Mr Golub to do something about the large crowd of photographers, reporters and ogling onlookers surrounding the pair.

The woman put on a sports bra, prompting the majority of the 150-strong crowd to disperse.

Mr Golub then kept painting, until Ms Mera’s body was covered head to her nude heel in neon pink and green paint swirling on either half of her body.

Explaining the art spectacle, he told the Post: ‘What I do (in public) is an extension of what I do in the studio. Sharing it with the public is a great experience.’

It was his second try at putting on the performance.

He was charged with public lewdness on July 30 after having two models take off all their clothes.

He avoided trouble this time by having model Ms Mera wear a G-string.