In a small Bavarian village, a two-year-old boy has become an overnight sensation, captivating the art world with his extraordinary talent. Laurent Schwarz, affectionately dubbed the "pint-sized Picasso," has been making waves by selling his abstract paintings for around $7,000 (Rs 5.84 lakh) each.
Laurent's journey to artistic fame began unexpectedly during a family vacation in South Tyrol, Italy, in September 2023. His mother, Lisa Schwarz, 32, recalls the pivotal moment. "There was a painting room in the hotel, and we couldn’t get him out of it," she told The Times.
Recognising her son's burgeoning talent, Lisa set up a studio for him just before Christmas, and Laurent's dedication was immediate. "He was in it all the time," she added.
Eager to share her son's impressive creations, Lisa launched an Instagram page showcasing Laurent's work. The response was overwhelming, with the account rapidly amassing nearly 30,000 followers. "I thought I’d set up a channel because what he was painting looked so nice," Lisa explained. "That triggered a real hype."
The buzz around Laurent's art quickly turned into tangible success. Lisa listed some of his paintings on a dedicated website, laurents.art, where art enthusiasts from the UK to the Bahamas eagerly snapped them up. The young artist's reach extended further when a prestigious New York gallery expressed interest in displaying his work.
Despite his newfound fame, Laurent's creative process remains entirely self-directed. "It’s totally up to him when and what he paints," Lisa told The Times. "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.’"
A private viewing of Laurent's art is scheduled for August in his hometown of Neubeuern. The proceeds from his art sales will be securely stored in a bank account until he turns 18, ensuring that Laurent can decide his own future.
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