A German boy has become an international art sensation after selling his paintings of horses, cats and ducks for thousands of dollars.
Nicknamed the “tiny Picasso”, two-year-old Laurent Schwarz, from Bavaria, is earning up to 6,500 euros on the international market thanks to his colorful works.
Far from stick figures, three-wheeled cars, and deformed farm animals, Laurent’s paintings have an air of professionalism, making them look gallery-worthy thanks to their abstract quality.
His proud mother, Lisa Schwarz, 32, realized that little Laurent had a special talent during a family vacation in South Tyrol, Italy, last September.
“There was a painting room in the hotel and we couldn’t get him out of there,” he said. The times.
Laurent Schwarz, two years old from Bavaria, raises up to 6,500 euros on the international market thanks to his colorful works
A New York art gallery also approached the little boy’s mother with an offer to exhibit Laurent’s work at the two-year-old’s first opening in his Alpine hometown of Neubeuern in August.
When they returned home, Lisa decided to set up a studio for her painting-loving son, where he stayed all the time.
The artworks began to arrive quickly as Laurent created painting after painting in his dedicated room.
Lisa was so proud of her pieces that she created an Instagram channel solely to share her son’s art.
One of the first paintings he uploaded was a piece called ‘The Fingers’, a mix of reds, yellows and blues that would match perfectly on a Tate Modern wall.
After the first post was shared with the world, Lisa revealed that it “triggered a real stir” and the likes and followers came in quickly.
Laurent’s page has attracted more than 28,500 followers and the comment sections of his posts have racked up more than 400 comments praising him for his talent.
The rapid rise to fame on social media prompted Lisa to start selling some of her son’s work on a website called laurents.art.
His acrylic-on-canvas paintings even sparked interest at Munich’s largest ART MUC art fair in April, selling to buyers from Britain to the Bahamas.
A New York art gallery also approached the little boy’s mother with an offer to display Laurent’s work at the two-year-old’s first opening in his Alpine hometown of Neubeuern in August.
His proud mother, Lisa Schwarz, 32, realized that little Laurent had a special talent during a family vacation in South Tyrol, Italy, last September.
Images and photographs posted on Laurent’s social media channels of him producing his pieces show him using tools such as brushes, rollers, spatulas and his fingers to bring his work to life.
“They are abstract and what is unusual is how they integrate visible figures into them, which people often mention to us and which makes them so popular,” said Lisa, who owns an interior design company with her husband, Philipp.
The mother also noted that many pieces show her love for animals, especially elephants, dinosaurs and horses, as well as her passion for using vibrant colors.
Lisa framed and hung several of Laurent’s works in the family home, but revealed that most have already been sold.
Paintings that have found their way into the homes of lucky buyers include The Blue Horse, a 31.5-by-39.4-inch work that features a horse amid an explosion of color.
Another that has sold is called The Cat and is a swirl of blues and touches of pink from which a cat with a large, bulbous eye looks out.
Proceeds from the painting sales will be transferred directly to a Laurent account, which he will have access to when he turns 18, Lisa said.
“It’s totally up to him when and what to paint,” Lisa added.
“Sometimes he doesn’t feel like painting and doesn’t set foot in his studio for three or four weeks, but suddenly he catches it and says, ‘Mom, painting.’