 "Laurent Schwarz reacts next to his mother Lisa while creating an artwork in his studio in his parents' house in Neubeuern near Rosenheim, southern Germany on October 17, 2024. AFP")
Three-year-old Laurent Schwarz may still be in nappies, but when he is not busy playing with his dinosaur toys, he enjoys exploring his creative side by applying acrylic paint to canvas. Using brushes, rollers, or even his fingers, he creates abstract artworks that have gained him recognition on social media and the nickname of Germany’s “mini-Picasso.”
Some of Laurent’s acrylic paintings have sold more than £5,000. His mother, Lisa, has assured that every penny that he sells goes into a savings account.
The toddler’s parents have set up a studio at their home in Neubeuern’ Bavarian town for him to create splashy artworks, which are often several times bigger than he is.
Laurent’s parents stated that his works have caught the attention of several art lovers and galleries. They believe that it is Laurent’s genuine passion for art that has driven the excitement in the art world, gained media interest, and contributed to his early brush with fame.
The journey to fame
Speaking to AFP, Lisa said that the family found out about Laurent’s love for painting during a family holiday last year at a hotel, which also had a studio.
She said, “When we got home, Laurent just wanted to paint – paint, paint, paint, the whole time.”
She and her husband, Philipp, gifted him canvases, brushes, and paint, and it was not long before family and friends were eager to see the young prodigy’s creations. They created an Instagram account to share images of his artwork and were soon overwhelmed by the response.
“Within four weeks we had got 10,000 followers,” she said.
Lisa mentioned that they began receiving inquiries from art galleries and interest from newspapers, which quickly dubbed him the “mini-Picasso”.
The account now has 90,000 followers, and during a sale of Laurent’s work in September, buyers from around the globe expressed interest, according to his parents. While they mentioned that some pieces have sold for hundreds of thousands of euros, they chose not to disclose specifics about the sales or the buyers.
What do his paintings feature?
Laurent’s paintings feature a unique mix of abstract forms intertwined with recognisable animal figures, including elephants (his favourite), dinosaurs, and horses. His mother, Lisa, explained his preference for bright colours, pointing out his dislike to “boring colours” and his clear sense of how to combine colours effectively.
$7,000 worth painting
Laurent Schwarz’s paintings, which feature animals, sell for as much as $7,000, according to The New York Post. The talented toddler’s work was showcased at Munich’s largest art fair, ART MUC, in April, attracting buyers from across the globe.
Nearly all of Laurent’s current pieces have been sold, with some priced close to $7,000. Lisa said that while she supports her son’s talents and passion, she does not pressure him to create.
“It’s totally up to him when and what he paints,” she was quoted as saying by the media outlet. “Sometimes he doesn’t feel like painting and doesn’t set foot in his studio for three or four weeks but then suddenly it grabs him and he says, ‘Mama, painting.’”
Beyond Laurent’s painting abilities, his parents have been amazed by his awareness of his own work. His mother recalled an incident where the toddler was able to identify two of his paintings from among the thousands on display at the Munich art fair last month.
“He went straight up to them and said ‘Laurent painted,” she said.
‘Laurent is always painting’
Laurent’s parents said that they are still surprised at the reaction to their son’s artwork. Philipp, 43, said that while “almost everything has been sold,” Laurent “is always painting new ones.”
“There are pictures that we don’t sell, for example his first work or ones that he particularly likes,” he said.
The couple is keeping the proceeds from Laurent’s sales in an account under his name, which he will have access to as an adult.
“He can study painting, buy a car, play an instrument, play football… It’s up to him to choose,” he said.
“The important thing for us is that he’s happy.”
Laurent’s got competition?
While Laurent’s talents are impressive, he is not the only young artist making waves in the art world. A toddler from Ghana recently earned the title of the world’s youngest artist, according to Guinness World Records.
But while Laurent’s talents are amazing, he isn’t the only tyke on the art scene.
Ace-Liam Nana Sam Ankrah was just 1 year and 152 days old when he received this honour. He started his painting journey at the age of 6 months.
The young artist quickly built a portfolio, producing creations that extended beyond just decorating his mother’s fridge. His work was also showcased at the Museum of Science and Technology in Ghana’s capital, Accra, from last December to early January.
With inputs from AFP