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Girl, 7, Becomes Famous Artist By Mistake
Filed under: In The News, Amazing Kids
Leilah Poulain holds her painting that is on display at London's Saatchi Gallery. Credit: Adam Gray, SWNS.com
You can almost hear a million artists screaming. They would give their left lungs to have one of their paintings exhibited at London's oh-so-exclusive Saatchi Gallery.
Yet, 7-year-old Leilah Poulain has her painting of a penguin hanging in the gallery -- because of a mistake, The Sun of London reports.
Poulain's mother, Rebekah, just wanted to download the penguin picture to a private online folder at home. Instead, she accidentally uploaded it to a public file and automatically entered Leilah in a national art competition.
Two years later, Poulain was notified that she was one the winners. Her penguin painting is now hanging alongside works of famous artists such as Damien Hirst.
"Apparently there were 1,700 entries," Rebekah tells the Sun. "It seems it happened because I'm an idiot. Leilah thinks it's brilliant."
However, the 7-year-old is not quite sure what it all means. "Does this mean I'm famous?" she asks the paper.
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ReaderComments (Page 5 of 5)
6-08-2011 @ 10:11PM
BUDDY said...I HAVE SEEN PAINTINGS SELL FOR MANY THOUSANDS OF DOLLARS.....EVEN HUNDREDS OF THOUSANDS, NO BETTER THAN THIS GIRLS PENGUIN.! THE ART WORLD IS RUN BY STUPID, RICH PEOPLE, WHO USE THE "EMPERORS NEW CLOTHES" AS THEIR CONSTITUTION.
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6-09-2011 @ 12:48AM
Raymond said...I want to wish 7-year-old Leilah Poulain many Congradulations!!!! Her Mother made a simple mistake & it turned out as a Great Piece of Fortune for this Little Girl having her Art Painting in London's Saatchi Gallery! Good For You, Leilah!!!!
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6-09-2011 @ 2:52AM
LEE said...BLESS YOUR HEART SWEETIE, Keep it up, someday maybe you'll be the next van gough.
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6-09-2011 @ 6:02AM
Judy said...Way to go Dad. You did a great job.
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6-09-2011 @ 6:17AM
dude said...Like I always said.. a kid can do just as good as some of these "artists" we have today.
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6-09-2011 @ 7:24AM
Loren said...Have you ever been to the Louve. One of the planist, most unimpressive works of art I have ever seen is the Mona Lisa. People flock by the millions to see this painting and it is absolutely a waste of wall space, but it is worth the trip to see some of the beautiful art surrounding it.
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6-09-2011 @ 8:54AM
angie said...Hi
I can clear all the confusion regarding this story.
I am the founder of the said website "myDrawings.me"- an online childrens art gallery where you can upload and store all your childs artwork (thus saving all of their 'Master pieces" forever). A few months ago Leilah had registered on our site and uploaded her drawings into her own gallery. At the end of April we ran a competition for an exhibition we are holding at the Saatchi Gallery in London throughout June, 20 pieces of work from all of the members personal galleries where picked to go on show. As Leilah already had some of her artwork in her gallery she was automatically entered into the competition, without her knowledge. She was then notified along with the other 19 successful competition winners.
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6-09-2011 @ 12:04PM
Tim said...I thought the picture looked like a rabbit. I just hope the kids parents put that money into a college fund for her. People are saying this picture looks like trash but it seems no different than some the guy with only one ear painted.
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6-09-2011 @ 10:42AM
sunny said...My question has always been What makes one an "artist"???
I love to paint but no one would consider me an "artist".
But the funky chicken guy who sells his paintings on the street corner has had gallery showings and has become a local celebrity.
What EXACTLY makes someone an "artist"????????
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6-09-2011 @ 11:19AM
KJDuren said...Wow, why all the negative comments? It's a CHILD who likes to paint and managed to have it shown. There is no need to trash talk this little girl. She is just a child. Would you want people talking like this about YOUR child, I think not.
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6-09-2011 @ 1:41PM
PJ said...Mistake, my @ss!
Reply