10-year-old German art prodigy takes New York’s art scene by storm

German art prodigy Mikail Akar is taking the New York art scene by storm.

The ten-year-old launched his second New York exhibition ‘UNBELIEVABLE’, which is open to the public at the Modus10 Rolf Benz Flagship Store, where he sold more than $80,000 worth of art to New York’s high society in the exhibition’s first weekend .

Hailing from Cologne – the birthplace of supermodel Heidi Klum – Mikail’s art has been compared to famed street artist Jean-Michele Basquiat for their penchant for graffiti-inspired pieces.

The young artist has been the toast of the international art circuit since he received hand paint and a canvas as a birthday present from his parents at the age of four. He now commands up to $16,000 for one of his colorful artworks.

Born in 2012, Mikail began his prolific artistic journey at the age of four and by the age of seven, he was making global headlines and being referred to as the ‘Pre-school Picasso’, while also being compared to Jackson Pollack in his abstract art.

Mikail had several exhibitions in cities across Germany, including Cologne, Düsseldorf, Berlin, Hamburg and Munich, where international art collectors quickly became acquainted with the young artist. This led to other shows in Vienna, Zurich and Istanbul.

Child prodigy Mikail Akar, 10, creates a one-of-a-kind painting at the Empire State Building on April 3 in New York City

At the New York launch party, heiress Tina Radziwell, 63 — daughter of the late socialite and ex-princess Lee Bouvier Radziwell, who was the sister of former first lady Jackie Kennedy Onassis — parted ways with $50 for a print of one of Mikail’s artworks.

One guest snapped, “Gawd-Tina is worth millions, it wouldn’t have cost her to stretch her budget a bit more.”

Iconic Studio 54 publicist Carmen D’Alessiom was also at the party. D’Alessiom has lost none of the energy she brought to the infamous Niteclub where Biana Jagger and Andy Warhol were regulars, as she was one of the last people to leave the event.

Despite being at the exhibition launch from 5pm, Mikail stayed up until 10pm signing art cards for fans.

The young artist also has a philanthropic side and has received notable attention as his work has been auctioned off for charities such as the ‘Art Helps to Give’ campaign.

One of his most recent collaborations was with the mineral water brand Gerolsteiner, with the Mikail Akar Artist Edition, in which his art was printed on more than 17 million water bottles.

In addition, the painter has also organized charity events in Turkey together with the civil protection authority AFAD to help the local population during the 2020 earthquake.

Akar pictured himself as being seven years old posing for a print edition of his painting titled ‘Champi’ that he made with German goalkeeper Manuel Neuer called ‘Manus 11’ prior to the opening of his ‘Manus 11’- exhibition in Berlin in December 2019

The opening reception of Akar’s art took place on March 31 at Modus 10 in New York’s Soho neighborhood

The young talented artist gives a thumbs up and smiles in front of his graffiti-inspired paintings next to a guest who attended the show

Akar will be interviewed by performer Shariff Sinclair during the exhibition

Other projects Mikail is currently working on include painting a series of three classic cars that will go on a roadshow in the near future.

He is also working on a 50 meter long canvas painting for a secret project.

Despite his adventures as a creative artist, Mikail has remained a normal child, attending school in Cologne and fully supported by his parents and two siblings.