The “most successful human animal artist in history” died shortly before her 8th birthday, according to a publication on her official Instagram account in the middle of this week.
For those who didn't know her, her name says everything there is to know about her: her name was
Pigcasso
- which combines the English word pig with the surname of the Spanish painter Picasso.
The South African pig became known worldwide for her expressionist-style artworks, some of which sold for thousands of dollars.
“From the slaughterhouse, to being the most successful animal artist in history, your life was simply extraordinary,” wrote the artist Joanne Lefson, on the official Pigcasso Instagram account.
“Your life made a big difference in the world.”
Picgasso, the most famous animal artist. Instagram @pigcassohoghero
Pigcasso lived in a farm sanctuary called Farm Sanctuary SA, in Franschhoek, a town near southwestern South Africa.
His art raised millions of rands, the African country's currency, according to his official website.
The proceeds were used to fund charities like that same farm.
From the slaughterhouse to the art world
Pigcasso was rescued by Joanne Lefson in May 2016 from a factory farm in South Africa, weeks before being sent to slaughter, a statement about her story details.
[The creator of the 'Dragon Ball Z' series, Akira Toriyama, dies at 68]
“Since she arrived, the pig ate or destroyed everything except a paintbrush that had been left in her manger,” the document says.
“Lefson was intrigued by the pig's interest in the brush and decided to see if she wanted to paint.
"Lefson modified the brush to fit the animal's mouth and it wasn't long before 'Pigcasso' was creating art on a canvas that Lefson had placed in her barn," she added.
By 2017, Pigcaso's art was becoming famous.
And in 2018, she became the first animal artist to 'host' a solo art exhibition, held at the V&A Waterfront, in Cape Town, South Africa.
That same year, Pigcasso spearheaded automaker NISSAN's 50th anniversary marketing campaign and subsequently 'designed' the SWATCH 2019 watch that sold out worldwide within hours.
And in 2021, he broke the world record for the best-selling artwork ever painted by an animal, when he sold the painting
WILD AND FREE
to a German buyer for £20,000 (about $25,716).
The fence's official site details that Pigcasso had shown symptoms of
arthritis
in recent years.
And in September 2023 his physical condition deteriorated rapidly: at the beginning of October both of his hind legs stopped working.
Their problems, according to the animal's official website, were directly related to the manipulations and modifications to which industrial farm animals are subject.