Ingrid Altmann knows that there’s power in silliness. That’s why she gives thrifted art comical makeovers in a bid to spread a little joy and perhaps a second chance at being purchased!
Cape Town, South Africa (10 April 2025) — Cape Town-based artist Ingrid Altmann is leveraging the power of silliness like a pro by giving thrift art comical makeovers.
An iconic mission to spread a little joy through laughter, Ingrid’s work is bent on bringing the fun back to paintings that have long been forgotten.
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Her series, ‘This Old Painting’ rescues forgotten thrift store artworks by giving them a little makeover.
From Garfield scratching his way down a painting to a suspicious Yoda in a forest, Ingrid’s touch is transforming pieces with each light-hearted touch.
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“I love the idea of giving these dusty, unloved paintings a second chance—adding a little joy, a little humour, and a lot of heart,” says Ingrid. “It’s like they were just waiting for a Bart Simpson or a Mary Poppins to show up.”
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Her latest creative adventure is focused on Parody art.
Think Van Gogh’s famous Starry Night (a dreamy backdrop) featuring playful pop culture characters that range from Snoopy to Casper the Friendly Ghost, Harry Potter and Darth Vader.
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“My goal is to make people smile. If someone looks at my work and laughs—or even just grins—then I feel like I’ve done something good for the day,” Ingrid explains. “There’s so much joy in the unexpected. Like, why wouldn’t Batman be lurking behind a farmhouse in a century-old landscape?”
Ingrid’s works have found homes around the country—and even a few abroad.
“I think we all need more fun,” she laughs. “Art doesn’t have to be serious. It can be silly. It can be surprising. It can be Snoopy in a starry sky.”
You can check out her whimsical works via @IngridAltmannArtist.
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