Banksy ‘Charlie Brown’ sells for $4 Million, while child prodigy thrills crowd with his artwork

At Art Miami and its sister fair Art Context, some 200 galleries from 14 countries featuring works by hundreds of artists fill the space. Tuesday night’s opening party made headlines when a Banksy work called ‘Charlie Brown’ sold for $4 million from Maddox Gallery.

It was sold to an undisclosed American collector at an Art Miami VIP Preview.

The elusive artist, Banksy, first spraypainted this work on a Los Angeles wall in 2011.

But one exhibition caught the eye of CBS4’s Lisa Petrillo. It is the work of 10-year-old Andres Valencia, a fourth-grader from California, whose showing at his first major art show.

“I looked at his work and I said, ‘I have to show this at Art Miami’,” explained Nick Korniloff, Art Miami Executive Director. “He’s a definite prodigy and it’s near and dear to my heart because proceeds of his art benefits Andres and his growing art career, but also our son’s foundation, The Perry J. Cohen Foundation,” which is named for his son who was lost at sea at age 14 in 2015 off the Jupiter inlet.

“How did you learn to do this?” Petrillo asked the 10-year-old artist prodigy.

“When I was little, I always liked to draw. There was this painting in my living room that I really liked, and I always tried to copy it. I just got better and better at drawing,” said Valencia.

Tuesday night, actor Channing Tatum became a fan posing with Andres’ paintings and actress Sofia Vergara bought one. Seven other of his acrylic and oil paintings sold. Andres admires the greats like Basquiat and Picasso and is completely self-taught.

“Well, I don’t have an art teacher yet, but I want an art teacher soon,” he said.

“I think you can maybe teach an art teacher something,” said Petrillo.

“Yes,” Andres replied while giggling.

“When I was little, I always liked to draw. There was this painting in my living room that I really liked, and I always tried to copy it. I just got better and better at drawing,” said Valencia.

Tuesday night, actor Channing Tatum became a fan posing with Andres’ paintings and actress Sofia Vergara bought one. Seven other of his acrylic and oil paintings sold. Andres admires the greats like Basquiat and Picasso and is completely self-taught.

“Well, I don’t have an art teacher yet, but I want an art teacher soon,” he said.

“I think you can maybe teach an art teacher something,” said Petrillo.

“Yes,” Andres replied while giggling.