Young artist Laurent from Bavaria captivates buyers with 32 paintings sold online

A two-year-old artist named Laurent from Bavaria, Germany, has gained significant attention after selling 32 paintings through Instagram and his own website. His mother, Lisa Schwarz, expressed pride in her son’s artwork, noting its uniqueness. Some of his paintings have been valued at €15,000 (approximately NOK 177,000) in the international market. For his first artwork, “The Fingers,” they received an offer of €270,000 (over NOK 3.1 million) which they ultimately declined due to its sentimental value.

Lisa Schwarz feels it’s important to keep the painting, as Laurent is incredibly proud of it. The family appreciates art for its emotional and aesthetic value rather than monetary gain. Laurent has become known as a “pint-sized Picasso” due to his impressive talents.

After discovering his artistic abilities last autumn, Schwarz created an Instagram account for Laurent, initially for her personal enjoyment. However, she quickly became impressed by his color choices, which she described as extraordinary.

Laurent has attracted over 56,000 followers on Instagram, and his first exhibition is set to open in September. While some art experts, like Cornelia Svedman, regard this phenomenon as a social media fad rather than true artistry, others believe all creativity has merit. William Heimdal, an artist himself, echoes the sentiment, suggesting that while the value of Laurent’s work may not be universally accepted as art, it still generates discussion within the contemporary art world.

Despite the acclaim and financial success, opinions on whether Laurent’s early creations qualify as true art remain divided, with questions surrounding intent and mastery taking center stage in the debate.