It is not a lot of fourth-graders who can impress the Wolf of Wall Street.
But Jordan Belfort — the trader-turned-felon who influenced the Scorsese movie — snapped up a portray this week by 10-year-outdated painter Andres Valencia. So did “Modern Family” star Sofia Vergara. Channing Tatum and artist Shepard Fairey also stopped by Andres’ booth at Art Miami right after hearing about the prodigy.
And he previously appreciates how to engage in the movie star recreation: “I’m so content [Vergara] bought my piece,” Andres explained to The Publish.
Though most fourth-graders are finishing up their research and taking part in Fortnite, Andres — who has been painting due to the fact he was 4 — has turn out to be the feeling of Miami Art Week, which involves functions like Art Basel.
“I’ve been in the art entire world for almost 30 a long time, and I have never witnessed anyone this young so talented,” Nick Korniloff, Artwork Miami’s executive director, instructed The Put up. “The artwork world’s responsibility is to obtain the up coming excellent artists, and we have performed that with Andres. He’s gone world in 36 several hours.”
In actuality, the San Diego native bought his entire selection of 17 paintings in a few days. His spouse and children is not disclosing price ranges paid out by Belfort or Vergara, but Andres’ do the job ranges from $5,000 to $20,000.
His parents, Lupe — a federal legal law firm — and Elsa, a jewelry maker, suggests that Andres is an previous soul who reveres artists like Picasso, Modigliani, Dali, George Apartment and Basquiat. (The latter was the inspiration for “King and Queen,” the 29-by-41-inch acrylic acquired by Belfort.) He listens to Jimi Hendrix, The Beatles, Freddie Mercury and Michael Jackson even though he’s portray, typically until finally 11 at night time.
He’s also amazingly prodigious, producing every working day. “I paint in little items,” Andres mentioned. “I function on it for an hour or two. Then I go do one thing else. I appear back to it the subsequent working day and continue to keep adding much more.”
But he’s also continue to a child who collects GI Joe figures and plays with his pals immediately after college. In reality, he was 20 minutes late for his Post interview for the reason that his mother took him to a toy retail store in amongst interviews.
The Valencias explained that they observed Andres’ expertise quite early on and nurtured it by shopping for him paint, brushes and canvases. Lupe extra that the boy cleans up all his messy spills and paint-splattered apparel.
His very first exhibition was in Soho past thirty day period at Chase Present-day.
Konfniloff invited him to Art Miami, and they are with each other supporting the Perry J Cohen Basis which honors the memory of Korniloff’s son, who was shed at sea for the duration of a boating mishap in 2015. Proceeds from the product sales will go to the basis to support teenage entrepreneurship, the arts and boating basic safety education and learning.
Although Andres’ artwork is presently sold out, it will be on show by means of the very last day of Art Miami, Sunshine. Dec. 5. As the youngest artist to at any time exhibit at Art Miami, he’s incredibly savvy about the small business of it all: “I’m so joyful to sell my paintings. I’m not emotionally hooked up for the reason that I know I can always make one more one.”