Pigcasso, the hottest painter in town, makes thousands of dollars with her art

Step aside Van Gogh, Warhol, and Klimt – Pigcasso the painting pig has taken the art world by storm! Since 2016, this artistic swine has sold over 400 of her original masterpieces, some fetching several thousands of dollars!

In fact, she sold so many paintings that in November 2022, she earned her place in the Guinness Book of Records for creating the most expensive artwork by an animal.

Her most prized piece, 'Wild and Free,' was inspired by the ocean waves of South Africa's Western Cape. In December 2022, this pig-crafted piece was sold for a whopping £22,000 ($27,000).

Yep, you read that right. Pigcasso is a recognized and prolific abstract artist. This passion blossomed after Joanne Lefson, a South African animal rights activist, rescued the 700kg (1,540 lb) swine from slaughter in 2016 and brought her to Farm Sanctuary SA in Franschhoek, just outside of Cape Town, South Africa.

According to the Guinness World Records website, Pigcasso gnawed and gobbled everything in the barn, leaving only a set of paintbrushes untouched…

This led to Lefson's brilliant idea of teaching Pigcasso to paint: "For some reason she took a knack to the paintbrushes and it wasn't long before she was dancing the brush across the canvas and selling artworks all over the world," Lefson told CBS News.

CBS News also reports that Pigcasso uses a custom-made brush and child-safe, non-toxic paint to create her abstract expressionist masterpieces. She signs each piece with a snout-dipped blend of beetroot and acrylic ink.

As you'd expect, all of Pigcasso's earnings go to the Farm Sanctuary, and some cash is also used to replenish the artist's supplies, according to Lefson. The Sanctuary's goal is to continue rescuing animals and to "educate the general public on the atrocities of today's factory farming practices that don't just harm animals but also one's health and environment."

Pigcasso is a bonafide artist. In fact, she even had her own exhibition titled "OINK" at The Waterfront in Cape Town in 2019.

You can buy her artwork both at the physical store at Farm Sanctuary SA in Franschhoek or online. Each piece averages from around $450 to $4,000. But it's quantity, baby. Her rescuer has said in July 2023 that she's sold $1 million worth of art.

But that's not all. Her fame has spread worldwide, catching the attention of one of the most well-known watch brands on the planet, leading to an artistic collaboration in 2019.

Photo: Instagram - @pigcassohoghero

The brand in question? None other than Swatch, which launched a limited-edition watch collection featuring Pigcasso's signature abstract brushstrokes in the Year of the Pig.

"They gave guidelines on the colors and general style, Pigcasso did the rest!" she told CBS. All proceeds from the sale of the limited edition watches went to the sanctuary.

"I am so proud of Pigcasso," Lefson said. "From pork chop to global Swatch designer, it's just another reason to see pigs as the smart creative divas that they are — and to eat less bacon and to go shopping instead!"

Photo: Instagram - @pigcassohoghero

Her talent is now known worldwide, from Europe to the U.S., Brazil, and various Asian countries. This is one talent you're sure to remember next time you think about eating that ham sandwich.

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