LaBeouf, Rönkkö & Turner

LaBeouf, Rönkkö & Turner emerged from the intersection of celebrity, visual art, and durational performance. Shia LaBeouf, already famous for his acting roles, had been experimenting with public art stunts and collaborations. Nastja Säde Rönkkö and Luke Turner were established in the European art scene, with Turner co-founding the art criticism platform The White Pube. The trio's first collaborative work, #INTRODUCTIONS (2014) at the Stedelijk Museum in Amsterdam, set the template for their practice: a simple, intimate setup where they sat in a room and invited visitors to interact with them one-on-one. This piece lasted four days and established their interest in breaking down the barrier between artist and audience.

Over the next few years, they created a series of participatory works that often involved public endurance. #TAKEMEANYWHERE (2015) saw the trio hitchhiking across Europe, relying on strangers for transportation and documenting the journey in real time. #ALLMYMISTAKES (2016) was a seven-day performance where they walked through London wearing paper bags over their heads with the phrase "I AM NOT FAMOUS ANYMORE" written on them, a direct reference to LaBeouf's public struggles. The piece generated global media attention and was later exhibited at various galleries. Their most famous and controversial work, He Will Not Divide Us (2017), began as a 24-hour live stream at the Museum of the Moving Image in New York, intended as a protest against Donald Trump's presidency. The stream quickly went viral, attracting both supporters and counter-protesters. After 24 days, the museum shut it down due to safety concerns, but the trio continued the stream from other locations, eventually running for over a year across multiple platforms. The work became a symbol of resistance and was viewed over 10 million times before being banned on Twitch and YouTube.

Since 2021, the trio has been less active as a collective. Their last major work, The Touch (2021), was a 24-hour silent live stream exploring physical connection during the COVID-19 pandemic. Members have since pursued individual projects: LaBeouf focused on his recovery and independent filmmaking, Rönkkö continued her solo practice, and Turner expanded his writing and curatorial work. Despite the hiatus, the group remains officially active, and their body of work continues to be studied in art schools and referenced in discussions about protest art and celebrity culture.[edit]

The trio formed organically, without auditions or a formal training period. Shia LaBeouf and Luke Turner met through mutual friends in the art world around 2013. Turner had been following LaBeouf's public art experiments, including his 2013 performance at the Los Angeles County Museum of Art where he sat silently in a room for 10 days. Nastja Säde Rönkkö was introduced to LaBeouf by Turner, as the three shared a fascination with durational performance and audience interaction. Their first meeting led to an immediate artistic chemistry, and they decided to collaborate on a project that would become #INTRODUCTIONS. The group's name, a deliberate parody of corporate or law firm naming conventions, reflects their ironic approach to identity and fame. They have described their collaboration as a "radical friendship" rather than a traditional artistic partnership. LaBeouf was born June 11, 1986, Rönkkö on July 9, 1985, and Turner on October 28, 1982. The group has no leader or hierarchy; all three are equal collaborators.[edit]

LaBeouf, Rönkkö & Turner are not a musical group; their medium is performance art. Their work does not involve songs, albums, or musical composition. Instead, they create durational performances, installations, and participatory events that often incorporate live streaming, social media, and physical endurance. Their style has evolved from intimate one-on-one encounters to large-scale public protests and digital performances. They frequently use simple props like paper bags, hoodies, and masks, and their works are characterized by a raw, unpolished aesthetic. The trio's practice is deeply rooted in conceptual art, with a focus on the artist-audience relationship, the nature of celebrity, and political activism. Their performances include #INTRODUCTIONS (2014, 4 days), #TAKEMEANYWHERE (2015, 7 days), #ALLMYMISTAKES (2016, 5 days), He Will Not Divide Us (2017, over a year), and The Touch (2021, 24 hours).[edit]

The trio's most significant cultural impact came through He Will Not Divide Us (2017), which became a landmark of protest art during the Trump era. The live stream was widely covered by mainstream media, including The New York Times, BBC, and CNN, and the phrase "He will not divide us" was chanted at actual protests. The work also sparked debates about free speech, platform censorship, and the role of art in political resistance. Shia LaBeouf's celebrity status brought unprecedented mainstream attention to performance art, introducing the genre to millions who would not typically engage with contemporary art. The group's use of simple, repeatable actions (sitting, walking, chanting) made their work accessible and participatory. While they have not had formal fashion collaborations, their iconic paper bag masks have been referenced in streetwear and Halloween costumes. The trio has been the subject of academic papers and is studied in university courses on performance art and digital culture. They have not won major awards but were nominated for art prizes. The stream was nominated for a Guinness World Record for longest continuous live stream but not officially awarded. The hashtag #HeWillNotDivideUs trended globally on Twitter in 2017.[edit]

The group does not have an official fandom name, lightstick, or fan color. Their following is primarily within the contemporary art world and among fans of Shia LaBeouf. During He Will Not Divide Us, a dedicated community of viewers formed on Twitch and YouTube, but it was more of a political movement than a traditional fandom. There are no organized fan projects, fan conventions, or merchandise. The trio has never accepted commercial sponsorships or brand deals, maintaining a deliberately anti-commercial stance. Their audience tends to be engaged with the political and conceptual aspects of their work rather than celebrity worship. Their social media presence is modest: Twitter/X @labeoufronkkoturner (~5,000 followers), Instagram (~8,000), and YouTube channel (2,000 subscribers).[edit]

The group's name is a deliberate parody of corporate or law firm naming conventions. All three members have described their collaboration as a "radical friendship" rather than a traditional artistic partnership. In 2016, the trio performed #ALLMYMISTAKES wearing paper bags with the words "I am not famous anymore" written on them, a direct reference to LaBeouf's public struggles. He Will Not Divide Us was originally conceived as a 24-hour performance but was extended indefinitely due to public engagement. The group has never accepted commercial sponsorships or brand deals. No record label or agency represents them; they are self-managed. They have no commercial discography or chart positions. Their website labeoufronkkoturner.com is archived.[edit]