The painting you see above can’t be found in the Met or the Louvre, because it wasn’t painted by a world-renowned artist, but a primate. Wait, let me clarify, I’m talking about the tree swinging, banana devouring kind of primate – a chimpanzee.
Brent, a 37-year-old chimp from the Chimp Haven in Keithville, Louisiana painted the above “masterpiece” with his tongue and won a $10,000 prize. Not too shabby for somebody who never stepped foot in an art school. The cash prize is part of the Humane Society’s Chimpanzee Art Contest and will go to benefit Brent and his peers at the Chimp Haven. Over 26,000 people voted in the contest and Brent was up against some stiff competition from primate sanctuaries all over the United States.
The second place winner, Cheetah, a chimp from Ft. Pierce, Florida was chosen by renowned Chimpanzee expert Jane Goodall, and won $5,000. Clearly, chimp painting is no monkey business in the art world.
Third place prize of $2,500 went to Ripley of the Center for Great Apes in Wauchula, Floirda.
Via Yahoo