Masterful painting of Jesus by 8-year-old rescued from the shadows
Akiane Kramarik’s masterpiece “Prince of Peace,” the ethereal image she painted of Jesus at only 8, was resurrected from obscurity 16 years after it was stolen, mistakenly sold and locked up in darkness.
Now a 28-year-old bestselling author, entrepreneur, and philanthropist, Akiane, the curator of spiritual images distinguished by her seemingly celestial brushstrokes, revealed that when creating her masterpiece, “Prince of Peace,” she felt compelled by a recurring “visionary inspiration” to craft the image of a “profound role model for humanity.”
At the age of nine, she made an appearance on the Oprah Show, showcasing her art that overshadowed her petite frame. Among her creations was an inspired portrait of Jesus titled “Prince of Peace,” formed by her uniquely intentional strokes.
“You’re obviously gifted. Where does this come from?” Oprah inquired of Akiane.
“It comes from God,” confidently replied the young prodigy.
In an interview when she was ten years old, Akiane was asked how she knows it’s God speaking to her. She responded, “Because I can hear His voice. His voice is quiet and beautiful.”
Interestingly, Akiane’s family did not hold religious beliefs, and the concept of God was never a topic of discussion in their modest home in Idaho where she was raised.
“It wasn’t just art that was happening. Simultaneous with art was a spiritual awakening,” shared Akiane’s mother, Forelli Kramarik, who was raised in an atheistic family in Lithuania. “It all began to happen when she started to share her dreams and visions. My husband, a former Catholic, did not share our family beliefs. We didn’t pray together, there was no discussion about God, and we didn’t attend church. Then suddenly, Akiane started talking about God.”
Akiane, who received homeschooling and had no exposure to babysitters or television, was not influenced by external sources, her mother emphasized. “We were with the kids all the time, so these words about God from Akiane didn’t come from the outside – we knew that. But intense conversations about God’s love, His role in our lives, and detailed descriptions started to emerge.”
Akiane clarified that the portrait was inspired by a vision she had since preschool. She expressed that she initially conveyed her visions through poetry and writings but found it too “complex to describe through words, so I painted.”
She shared, “I always think about Jesus and talk about Him. I was looking for a [Jesus] model for a long time, and when I couldn’t find anyone, one day I suggested to my family to pray all day for this model so God would send the right one.”
The family prayed and a very tall carpenter–like Jesus, who was also a carpenter–appeared at the family’s door, looking for work. Akiane recalled that she nearly fainted when she saw him. “I told my mother that that was him. I want him to be my model,” she recalls.
Spawned from the image in her dreams, and using the carpenter as a model, Akiane painted the “Prince of Peace,” a now priceless painting that’s recognized internationally.
Demonstrating vivid and detailed techniques, unusual skills from such a young artist, “Prince of Peace” was sent to an exhibition, but stolen along the way. A few years later, it was finally returned to Akiane, though during shipping, it came back covered in sawdust, which she carefully removed.
The family’s efforts to share Akiane’s spiritually-inspired portrait with the world again ran into difficulties when a clerical error put the painting up for sale instead of exhibition.
“Prince of Peace” was sold to a private collector, and after losing a lengthy court battle to reclaim the piece, which was stored under a dark stairwell, Akiane focused on creating new masterpieces, all receiving global praise.
Not willing to give up hope, Akiane–her talents pulled her family from poverty–believed she would again see her “Prince of Peace” and in the meantime, she travelled to more than 30 countries, counseling diverse groups of people about art, sharing her message of peace, and spirituality, along the way. She also kept the memory of “Prince of Peace” alive by selling more than 100,000 prints.
In 2019, a miracle happened.
“Prince of Peace” was put up for sale and purchased for $850,000 by an anonymous family, that’s rumored to be “one of the world’s most distinguished and esteemed families.”
The new family “views itself as the stewards for the original. They feel it is their mission to protect this masterpiece for generations to come, so it can touch millions of more lives with its story.”
After almost two decades, Akiane carefully unwrapped her magnificent “Prince of Peace,” and wiping the tears from her cheeks, she dropped to her knees. Looking at her most treasured work, Akiane recently said in an interview with CBS, “It was amazing to me. To be able to see this into the light again, after so many years.”
She continued, “It’s still surreal to me. I’m not gonna lie…Love is so powerful. It will always show up on time to people who need it most.”
“Akiane: The Early Years,” featuring the world-famous painting, “Prince of Peace” is on exhibit at the Belóved Gallery in Marble Falls, TX.
