The mother of the Ghanaian toddler recognized as the world’s youngest male painter shared her joy in her son’s artistic prowess with the BBC, expressing hope for his future success in the art world. Ace-Liam Nana Sam Ankrah achieved this remarkable feat at just one year and 152 days old.
Chantelle Kuukua Eghan, his mother and an artist herself for eight years, spoke proudly of her son’s talent, noting his innate understanding of color complementarity. She discovered his gift when he was only six months old, amazed by his fascination with bright colors.
Ace-Liam’s official recognition came last Monday after a five-month wait for Guinness World Records (GWR) to validate his achievement. To qualify, GWR required him to participate in a professional exhibition, sell his work, and demonstrate his independent creation.
Ace-Liam’s artwork was showcased at the Museum of Science and Technology in Accra, where he sold nine out of ten pieces. His talent even caught the attention of the First Lady, Rebecca Akufo-Addo, who commissioned him.
This journey into the art world was unplanned. Ms. Eghan introduced him to painting to keep him occupied while she worked on a commissioned piece. His fascination with the colors led to his first artwork, “The Crawl,” which kickstarted his career.
Ace-Liam’s paintings are characterized by vibrant colors and acrylic paint, reflecting his curiosity and discovery. Ms. Eghan aspires for him to follow in the footsteps of renowned Ghanaian artist Amaoko Boafo, while drawing inspiration from international artists like Jackson Pollock and Damian Hirst.
She hopes to secure an international scholarship to nurture Ace-Liam’s talent further, encouraging parents to cultivate their children’s abilities from an early age. With his own studio, crafted by his devoted mother, Ace-Liam is poised to create his next masterpiece.
