A pig once beat humans in a painting contest—brush and all! In 1997, a South African pig named Pigcasso (yes, really) made headlines when she picked up a paintbrush with her snout and started creating art. Her owner, Joanne Lefson, had rescued her from a slaughterhouse and noticed Pigcasso loved playing with brushes in the mud. Joanne gave her some non-toxic paint, and soon Pigcasso was splattering canvases with bold strokes of color, mostly blues and reds.
Pigcasso’s big moment came when her artwork was entered into a local art contest in Cape Town, competing against human artists. Her piece, a chaotic mix of swirls and splashes, won first prize—judges loved its “raw energy” and didn’t even know a pig had painted it until after the winner was announced! Pigcasso went on to become a global sensation, with her paintings selling for thousands of dollars to collectors worldwide. The money went to animal welfare charities, and she even “signed” her work with a snout print.
This artsy pig proves talent can come from the most unexpected places—or snouts. Next time you’re at an art gallery, imagine a pig outpainting the pros—it’s a funny fact that’ll make you giggle. Share this with your friends and come back for more on Factfizz!
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