Five-year-old art prodigy Aelita Andre's second solo exhibit

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Lost in space: 5-year-old art prodigy

3News NZ

Aelita Andre

Aelita Andre

Bright, vivid and playful are words used to describe the paintings created by five-year-old Australian artist Aelita Andre.

Miss Andre has been painting nearly all of her life - she crawled onto her first canvas. She created her first significant body of work before turning two-years-old.

Already an art prodigy, her bold masterful style has garnered her worldwide attention, solo art exhibitions and the distinction of being the youngest professional painter in the world.

Last year, during her art exhibition at New York's Agora Gallery, every one of her paintings sold within seven days. Now, Miss Andre is back for seconds.

She is bringing 22 colourful paintings to the market, priced from US$4,600 to US$12,900, in her second solo exhibit - "Aelita Andre: Secret Universe".

The exhibition offers a look into the child's mind - the fantasy of dinosaurs, unicorns and outer space.

"They look like space and they're not real and they're not realistic. They're like space and they don't look really, really much like space. They look abstract," said the five-year-old during a showing of her work.

Her art brings to life most of her favourite colours, and she has plenty of favourites.

"All colours I like. I like all colours - even gray and even black and even white. But the most colour I like is red and blue and green and also silver and gold."

Many of Miss Andre's artworks also feature plastic animals, both real and imagined.

"Unicorns are the best creatures ever. I love them," she said.

Agora Gallery Director Angela Di Bello described how Miss Andre's thoughts translate to her work.

"She has sort of bridged the gap between the abstract and realism... The paintings are basically abstract expressionist drippings and very painterly strokes," Ms Di Bello said.  "She then includes animals, fairies, butterflies, insects and so that's where she is bridging the gap between the two. So I feel that she is an abstract expressionist slash surrealist."

Although young, art experts agree that Miss Andre's art can not be compared to the scribble of an ordinary child. They call her work thoughtful and well-composed. Some art experts even compare her work to famed abstract artist Jackson Pollock.

Accolades aside, Aelita Andre is just a little girl who loves to paint.

"Aelita Andre: Secret Universe" will run until July 3 at the Agora Gallery in New York.

Reuters / 3 News

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15/06/2012 7:52:18 p.m.

fish face wrote:

Without wanting to knock this child's 'talent' I do have to laugh listening to an art critic waffle on about 'abstract realism combined with surrealism' (or whatever). These paintings are the product of a kid left in a room with a blank canvas, heaps of paint and minimal (if any) adult supervision (ie. no adults harping on about mess, or telling the kid she should be drawing a picture of mummy or whatever). As for the paintings being 'abstract' and 'surreal' - i think you could apply that to all kids drawing. i've yet to see a kids painting that makes sense!!!! I love the big head and no body thing that little kids draw - abstract? Yup!!! Keep having fun with the paint Aelita, try and ignore the adults trying to give it arty farty meaning - just enjoy!!