An 8-year-old, 1 thousand-pound pig, called Pigcasso has been making remarkable waves in the art scene all will bringing smiles to people’s faces. Rescued from an industrial hog farm in 2016, Pigcasso now resides at a farm sanctuary near cape town, South Africa, where she indulges her unexpected talent for painting. Her owner and sanctuary founder, discovered her affinity for painting when Pigcasso showed a particular interest in paint brushes among her playthings. Creating abstract expressionist art with a custom-made brush and nontoxic paint, Pigcasso’s works are sold worldwide, bringing thousands of Dollars each. She signs her completed pieces using a mixture of beetroot and acrylic ink with her snout, and enjoys caramel popcorn in her downtime.
Not only has her art raised approximately $145,000 for the sanctuary, but she also became the first animal to open her own exhibition, known as “Oink,” in cape town. The sanctuary’s primary mission is to inspire compassion for farm animals and educate the public on the harmful effects of conventional factory farming practices on animals, health, and the environment. The funds raised from Pigcasso’s artwork help further their cause by enabling them to rescue more farm animals. Pigcasso has collaborated in the past with watchmaker Swatch, using her brushstrokes to celebrate the Chinese year of the pig.
The limited-edition watches contributed all proceeds to the sanctuary. Her journey from a slaughterhouse to a celebrated animal artist has brought her world renown and contributed significantly to a noble cause. From her Pigsty Studio, she continues to paint, inspire, and contribute to a compassionate world, one stroke at a time.
