Ghanaian Toddler Achieves Guinness World Record as Youngest Male Artist at One Year Old
In a remarkable achievement, Ace-Liam Nana Sam Ankrah, a one-year-old boy from Ghana, has been recognized by the Guinness World Records as the world’s youngest male artist. At the age of 1 year and 152 days, Ace-Liam has already made a significant mark in the art world.
Ace-Liam, who began showing interest in art at just six months old, has created over 20 paintings. His talent was showcased at The Soundout Premium Exhibition at the Museum of Science and Technology in Ghana, where 10 of his artworks were displayed, nine of which were sold.
According to GWR, Ace-Liam loves the feel of paint on his hands, the bright colors, and the ability to express himself through painting. His mother, Chantelle, also an artist, discovered his passion when he was six months old. She shared, “While learning to crawl, I spread out a piece of unstretched canvas on the floor and dropped some paint on it to keep him busy while I worked on a commission painting. He ended up spreading the paint all over the canvas, creating his first masterpiece titled ‘The Crawl.’ It was clear that he found a lot of joy in it.”
Ace-Liam has garnered attention from both national and international media, as well as from the First Lady of the Republic of Ghana. His mother noted, “He has created a buzz and heightened the conversation about art appreciation, as well as discovering and nurturing talents in kids.”
For Ace-Liam, painting is a fun and creative outlet, allowing him to explore and create without limitations. His abstract paintings are inspired by his surroundings—colors, shapes, textures, and his mood. Each piece is
an expression of his curiosity and joy in discovering new things. GWR noted that Ace-Liam’s painting sessions are spontaneous and guided by his mood. Once his painting area is set up with canvases and paints, he chooses the canvas size and colors he prefers, then calls his mother to open the paint bottles for him. His painting sessions can last from a few minutes to about half an hour, depending on his interest at the moment. Sometimes he leaves a painting and returns to it after a few days to finish it. Once he’s done, he says, “Mama finish.”
After his record as the world’s youngest male artist was approved, Ace-Liam’s proud family began exploring opportunities to nurture his talent through quality education and international scholarship opportunities.
Chantelle advises parents to encourage and support their child’s interests, no matter how early they appear. “Every child is unique, and nurturing their passions can lead to amazing discoveries and achievements,” she said. She also offered advice to those aspiring to break world records: “Read the rules carefully, follow them diligently, and remember that the journey and the joy it brings are very fulfilling.”
