Florida Man Builds 24-Foot Toilet Chair in Backyard, Neighbors Lose Their Mind
A Winter Haven artist built a permitted, 24-foot wooden toilet chair with a clown face underneath it, and his neighbors can't do a thing about it.
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Olivia Briggs reports on Steven Chayt, a 68-year-old Winter Haven artist who built a 24-foot wooden toilet chair sculpture — the 'HOHO Chair' — in his backyard on Old Thornhill Road. Chayt first conceived the idea in 1992, built small models, and finally executed the full structure after receiving proper permits from Polk County. The sculpture features a hole in the seat and an open-mouthed clown face painted on vinyl beneath it, visible from blocks away. Chayt says the work was inspired by French sculptor Marcel Duchamp's 'Fountain' and that the clown 'represents the phrase place your trust here.'
Neighbor James Barfield III is among the most vocal critics, telling FOX 13 the chair 'just doesn't fit with the character of our neighborhood,' while others defend Chayt's right to build on his own property. Because all permits were properly obtained and safety codes met, opponents have little legal recourse, a fact property law attorney David Chen calls 'a classic case of artistic expression versus community aesthetic preferences.' The sculpture has attracted social media attention and 'toilet tourists' from across Central Florida, and local officials say permit inquiries for large yard sculptures have risen since the HOHO Chair gained media coverage.
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What matters, in Yank’s words, each linked to where the source says it.
Chayt first conceived the HOHO Chair idea in 1992, building miniature models, but waited years before constructing the full 24-foot version. In the source
Polk County issued Chayt all required permits, and the structure meets local building codes, leaving opponents with limited legal options. In the source
Chayt says the clown face beneath the seat 'represents the phrase place your trust here' and 'means whatever you think it means.' In the source
Property appraiser records show no significant negative impact on surrounding home values, though the sculpture was only recently completed. In the source
Local officials report increased inquiries about large sculpture permits since the HOHO Chair gained media attention. In the source
The five worth keeping
Without knowing the meaning, I knew I had to build it.
Olivia BriggsArtist's statement, HOHO Chair section
Chayt frames the sculpture as driven by instinct rather than intellect, positioning it as pure creative compulsion like Duchamp's readymades.
In context
Chayt, who worked for years perfecting his concept, sees the controversy as missing the point of his artistic statement. The sculpture, which he’s dubbed the “HOHO Chair,” represents more than just bathroom humor. “When I first had the idea for the HOHO Chair, I didn’t question or analyze what it meant,” Chayt wrote in an artist’s statement. “Without knowing the meaning, I knew I had to build it.” The chair was originally conceived as two miniature models in 1992 – one for himself and one for a friend. Chayt says the concept was influenced by Marcel Duchamp’s famous “Fountain” sculpture, which challenged conventional definitions of art by presenting a urinal as fine art.
Receipt
The clown represents the phrase 'place your trust here.' It means whatever you think it means.
Olivia BriggsThe Clown Factor section
Chayt deflects any single interpretation of the clown, casting the whole structure as an open-ended provocation about trust and meaning.
In context
The Clown Factor Perhaps the most unsettling aspect of Chayt’s creation is the painted clown face beneath the toilet seat opening. The open-mouthed design creates an optical illusion that has disturbed some viewers and delighted others. “The clown represents the phrase ‘place your trust here,'” Chayt explained. “It means whatever you think it means.” The clown element has spawned countless memes and social media posts, with people creating their own interpretations of what the face represents. Property Value Concerns
The clown represents the phrase 'place your trust here.' Chayt explained. It means whatever you think it means.
Receipt
In 1992, I had an idea for a chair. It was a sculpture that sort of came to me. I put together a model and waited quite a few years until I got a chance to do something more about it.
Olivia BriggsOpening section
Chayt establishes that the project gestated for years, framing the finished giant sculpture as deliberate rather than impulsive.
In context
The controversial artwork stands like a giant’s bathroom furniture, dominating the skyline of what was previously a quiet residential area. The structure features a massive hole cut through the center of the seat, with an open-mouthed clown face painted on vinyl beneath it – creating an unsettling optical illusion for anyone looking up from below. “In 1992, I had an idea for a chair,” Chayt explained to local media. “It was a sculpture that sort of came to me. I put together a model and waited quite a few years until I got a chance to do something more about it.”
In 1992, I had an idea for a chair. Chayt explained to local media. It was a sculpture that sort of came to me. I put together a model and waited quite a few years until I got a chance to do something more about it.
Receipt
You drive in, the first thing you see is a 24-foot-tall potty chair — it just doesn't fit. There's a community where people live and where their children play, it should be preserved in some right.
Olivia BriggsNeighbors Flush with Anger section
Neighbor Barfield voices the community's core objection: a giant toilet chair clashes with a space where families and children belong.
In context
Not everyone appreciates Chayt’s artistic vision. Local resident James Barfield III has been particularly vocal about his displeasure with the neighborhood’s new landmark. “You drive in, the first thing you see is a 24-foot-tall potty chair, it just doesn’t fit,” Barfield told FOX 13. “There’s a community where people live and where their children play, it should be preserved in some right.” The sculpture has divided the neighborhood, with some residents calling it an eyesore that negatively impacts property values, while others defend Chayt’s right to artistic expression on his own property.
You drive in, the first thing you see is a 24-foot-tall potty chair — it just doesn't fit. Barfield told FOX 13. There's a community where people live and where their children play, it should be preserved in some right.
Receipt
Since he followed all legal requirements, neighbors have limited recourse beyond social pressure.
Olivia BriggsArt vs. Community Standards section
An attorney confirms that legal compliance leaves opponents no formal remedy, settling the power question at the heart of the dispute.
In context
The HOHO Chair controversy highlights ongoing tensions between artistic freedom and community standards in residential neighborhoods. Legal experts note that as long as proper permits are obtained and safety codes are met, property owners generally have broad rights to construct art on their land. “This is a classic case of artistic expression versus community aesthetic preferences,” explains property law attorney David Chen. “Since he followed all legal requirements, neighbors have limited recourse beyond social pressure.”
Receipt
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