A 1-year-old became the Guinness World Records youngest male artist after his paintings were featured in an exhibition at the Museum of Science and Technology in Accra, Ghana.
Ace-Liam Nana Sam Ankrah sold nine of the ten pieces he exhibited.
To qualify for the coveted recognition, Guinness World Records said the toddler had to complete the work professionally, display it in a public exhibition and sell one of the pieces. There would also have to be evidence that he had done his own work.
ace_liam_paints/Instagram via Guinness World Records
In an interview with CBS partner network BBC News, the boy’s mother spoke of her pride in her son’s work.
“He already knows which colors complement each other,” says Chantelle Kuukua Eghan, who is also an artist.
She told the Guinness World Records that she discovered Ace-Liam liked painting when she tried to keep him busy while she worked. She put some paint on a canvas on the floor and let him play with it. The result was a piece entitled The Crawl.
“It was clear he found a lot of joy in it,” she said. “He has created a buzz and sparked the conversation about art appreciation,” Chantelle added.
Describing his son’s work, she told Guinness World Records that she let Ace-Liam choose the canvas and colors he wanted, and let him spread the paint spontaneously.
“When he finishes, he says ‘mommy finish,’” she added.
The boy’s family has said they are now looking for scholarships for him.
