'Young Picasso' Mikail Akar, 9, Held New York Exhibit With Paintings Valued at $12,000 Per Piece

Mikail Akar, 9 years old, is the latest toast of the global art scene, who has recently completed a successful exhibit at the High Line Nine Gallery in New York City. The German-born talent has earned the nickname "Young Picasso" for his artistic style.

Mikail is considered the youngest abstract painter currently showcasing his work. His parents discovered his talent at 4 years old. They give him an art canvas and a set of finger paint supplies for his fourth birthday, instead of the usual toy cars that boys his age usually get.

From there, Mikail started creating images, mostly abstracts like Picasso, and has never stopped. In 2020, before the pandemic lockdowns, he sold some of his abstracts for $12,000 apiece to a couple of soccer superstars in Germany.

Alex Washkovick, the boy's manager told Wavy that when he saw the boy's paintings, he initially thought it was the work of the mother or father since it looks like an adult work of art. Christian Maxwell, the New York gallery executive director, said he has truly been honored to present Mikail's work because he's impressed by the boy's creativity.

Mikail has also inspired kids and parents in the community to pursue art. Besides his talent, they were equally impressed that he's an eloquent speaker for a boy who is barely 10.

Read Also: Nyla Hayes, 13, Becomes Self-Made Millionaire for Creating NFT Art 

Mikail Akar is a Normal Kid

But far from being a genius, the boy's father, Kerem Akar, 38, said he's still pretty much like any regular boy who has friends his age and who likes to listen to the music of Michael Jackson or dabble in a game of soccer. In fact, Mikail's ambition when he grows up is to become a professional soccer player. He's also part of his school's junior team.

Speaking with Daily Mail, the 9-year-old said that he sometimes gets tired of painting and may take some time to complete a masterpiece. Kerem said that they do not force their son to finish projects to ensure that he won't fall into the trappings of his famous reputation.

Kerem said that they have turned down some requests for his son to showcase his work. The most important thing is that the boy paints if he wants to and he's also occupied with other activities.

In spite of this, Mikail has had dozens of exhibits around Germany and Europe and while his main medium is a paintbrush, some of his works were done using a spatula, boxing gloves, or plastic cups to create eye-catching pieces. He has also amassed a social media following on Instagram with over 230,000 followers.

Learning from YouTube

According to his official site, Mikail learned to do abstract art in the style of Pablo Picasso from watching YouTube videos. He said that there are instances when he has a complete idea of what he's going to create but he also has raw ideas in his head that develops as he works on the canvas.

Several local artists have gotten in touch with the boy and his parents because they want to commend him for his extraordinary play of colors and learn his techniques as well. The exceptionally talented boy had his first exhibit at the age of 5 years old in Cologne.

He then opened his virtual exhibit during the lockdown when events and gatherings were canceled. This soon led to more doors from admirers of art around the world, including as far as Istanbul and America.

Mikail said that he is also inspired by the artistry of Gerhard Richter, Jackson Pollock and Jean-Michel Basquiat. He's been active in charity work as well and has sold paintings to benefit causes that help displaced people in natural calamities.

Yet, despite his busy life as an artist who travels to many places, he's still a regular student in Cologne and he still gets support from his parents, alongside his two other siblings.

Related Article: 6 Must-Have Art Supplies to Keep at Home