At just 1 year and 152 days old, Ace-Liam Nana Sam Ankrah from Ghana has become the world’s youngest artist, according to Guinness World Records.
Ace-Liam, who began showing an interest in art at six months old, has already created over 20 paintings. He recently participated in his first group exhibition at the Museum of Science and Technology in Ghana, where 10 of his artworks were displayed and nine were sold.
Guinness World Records mentioned that Ace-Liam enjoys the tactile experience of painting, the vibrant colors, and the opportunity to express himself through art. His mother, Chantelle, an artist herself, noticed his passion for painting when he was just six months old. She recalled how he created his first masterpiece, titled “The Crawl,” while learning to crawl on a canvas she had laid out for him.
As a single mother, Chantelle needed to keep Ace-Liam occupied while she worked. “He already knows what colors complement each other,” she said. Chantelle Kuukua Eghan has been an artist for eight years and has nurtured her son’s early talent.
Ace-Liam was officially honored with the title last Monday after five months of waiting for Guinness World Records to ratify their attempt. “When I opened the email, I just broke down and thanked God,” Ms. Eghan told the BBC.
She hopes her son will follow in the footsteps of Ghanaian artist Amaoko Boafo. “He has been able to put Ghana on the map when it comes to art,” she said. However, for international inspiration, she wants her son to look up to American artist Jackson Pollock and the UK’s Damian Hirst.
Ace-Liam now has his own studio, created for him by his devoted mother.
