How a toddler from Ghana ended up becoming the youngest-ever artist

A toddler from Ghana has captured the internet's attention with his extraordinary skills, earning a spot in the Guinness World Records for his artistic talent. At just one year and 152 days old, Ace-Liam Nana Sam Ankrah became the world’s youngest artist, with his vibrant canvases speaking volumes.

Ace-Liam's journey into the world of visual arts is remarkable. He began painting at just six months old, encouraged by his mother Chantelle Kuukua Eghan, who is also an artist. She introduced him to painting to keep him entertained while she worked on a piece for Miss Universe 2023, according to the NewYork Post.

To keep her crawling son busy, Chantelle spread out a canvas on the floor and dropped some paint on it. As the infant crawled around, she was amazed by the vibrant artwork he created and aptly named the piece "The Crawl."

As a toddler, Ace-Liam developed an avid interest in painting even when he had only learned how to walk and talk. "It was clear that he found a lot of joy in it," told the mother to Guinness World Records. "It's a fun and creative outlet for him, and he enjoys the freedom to explore and create without limitations," she added.

His painting sessions are always interesting as he eagerly walks into his studio, choosing the canvas size and colors he prefers. Describing the whole experience, Eghan said, "He calls me to open the paint bottles for him and then he starts applying the paint on the canvas carefully yet spontaneously."

She added, "A painting session can last anywhere from a few minutes to about half an hour, depending on his interest at the moment. Sometimes he leaves a painting and comes back to it after a couple of days to finish it. Once he’s done, he says ‘Mama finish'."

Ace-Liam, who turns two in July this year, already has 20 paintings to his credit. However, getting recognized by the Guinness World Record wasn't a walk in the park. Some rules and directives were to be followed for him to get his name on the record. First, he needed to be part of a professional exhibition. Second, the work exhibited had to be done to a professional standard. Third, evidence was to be presented that the work was done on his own. Lastly, he had to sell his work in the said exhibition, per BBC. 

Working on these rules, Ace-Liam participated in his first group exhibition, The Soundout Premium Exhibition at the Museum of Science and Technology in Ghana, where he presented 10 of his paintings. He found commercial success as he was able to sell nine of these paintings. The young artist also gathered some admirers, one of them being Ghana’s first lady, Rebecca Akufo-Addo, who attended the exhibit and commissioned a painting from him.

After having followed all the rules put up by the organization, Ace had to wait for five months to get honored with the title. His mom excitedly noted, "When I opened the email I just broke down and thanked God." She is keen to see her son grow and develop as an artist. She hopes this recognition will open up more opportunities for him.