Pigcasso the pig, has become a successful abstract painter as her painting start selling internationally, some for as much as R24,000.00!
Pigcasso is a 200-kilogram pig from the Western Cape. She has made her mark on the South African and International art scene by painting abstract artwork using a brush and her snout. She was named after renowned Spanish artist Pablo Picasso. Joanne Lefson saved her from the slaughterhouse.
The Farm Sanctuary SA, a haven for rescued livestock, is home to her painting studio. It is located in the town of Franschhoek. Her colorful abstract paintings have been sold for thousands of dollars, all in the name of the sanctuary.
“Obviously everyone is always surprised and they can’t believe that the pig is painting but the most amazing thing is to see people coming to Farm Sanctuary SA and see her artworks and the first thing that usually comes out is ‘oh my goodness, this is really good’. So I think if you look at her artworks completely objectively not even knowing that a pig actually painted them, I think they can stand in a fine gallery with some of the great expressionists of our time,” – Joanne Lefson, the founder of Farm Sanctuary SA.
The Farm Sanctuary is the only officially registered sanctuary on the African continent for rescued farm animals. Pigcasso’s work will be put on sale at the new ‘Oink’ gallery where profits will be used to maintain the sanctuary. Joanne hopes that the artworks will help people realise there are better ways to treat farm animals.
“Pigcasso sold about 19 paintings, nine of which have been some of her big artworks, and the most expensive one sold for about 2,000 dollars,”
Joanne hopes that Pigcasso can hang her work on the same walls as other great abstract painters.
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