The pig Pigcasso has died. She was 8 years old. Joanne Lefson, its owner, announced it recently, and confirmed that the canon of animal art lost its greatest exponent.
Pigcasso became known as “the most successful non-human artist in world history.” Throughout her life she sold paintings for more than a million dollars. She decorated the properties of Rafael Nadal and Jane Goodall, among other celebrities.
Her former owner told Caters News: “It is very sad that such an inspiring figure for animal welfare has disappeared. But we also celebrate a life well lived and the profound difference she made.”
According to the South African, her legacy continues through the sanctuary where Pigcasso lived, whose mission is “to inspire a kinder and more sustainable world for all.” With the money earned from his works, Lefson maintains the Farm Sanctuary SA farm in addition to supporting other similar charities.
The sow suffered from chronic rheumatoid arthritis. His two hind legs were practically non-functional and part of his spine was calcified. His physical condition deteriorated rapidly in September 2023, Lefson reported to the aforementioned media.
At the beginning of October, both of his legs “had become lame.” “Both incurable conditions are directly related to the manipulations and modifications to which farm animals are subjected in today's industrial farms," said the 52-year-old woman.
Pigcasso made a living as an artist after Lefson rescued her from a slaughterhouse when she was only 4 weeks old. It was May 2016. If she hadn't done it, she Pigcasso “would have turned into a piece of bacon.”
“She was saved and resurrected to inspire millions of people to reconsider what they eat thanks to her extraordinary talent,” Lefson said. Her first jobs were at Ella Farm, a non-profit foundation for rescued animals in Franschhoek, South Africa.
The sow was named Pigcasso in homage to the Spanish painter Pablo Picasso (pig in English is "pig"). Unlike the human, she signed his works by dipping her snout in red paint. Lefson never forced her to paint. Pigcasso did it whenever she wanted. Between brush strokes, the sow used to eat from a picnic basket overloaded with organic strawberries, guavas and popcorn.
Pigcasso participated in exhibitions in South Africa, the Netherlands, Germany, France, China and the United Kingdom, among other countries. Her excellent work led her owner to sign a commercial agreement with the Swatch watch brand with which the pig made a work titled Flying Pig by Ms. Pigcasso for the dial of a limited edition watch.
Pigcasso also held the record in 2021 for the most expensive work of art ever sold by an animal in all of history. It was the painting Wild and Free, which was sold to a German for $25,000. Interestingly, his latest artwork is titled Standing Ovation.
