After being stolen, erroneously sold, and kept up in the dark for 16 years, Akiane Kramarik’s masterwork “Prince of Peace,” the ethereal portrait of Jesus she painted at the age of 8, was recovered.
Akiane, a best-selling author, businesswoman, and philanthropist now in her 28th year, explained that she was inspired to paint her masterpiece, “Prince of Peace,” in response to a recurring “visionary inspiration” that compelled her to depict a “profound role model for humanity.”
Her seemingly otherworldly brushstrokes are the curator of spiritual images.When she was nine, she made an appearance on the Oprah Show to exhibit her artwork.
The pieces she brought along dwarfed her small frame and included a moving depiction of Jesus called “Prince of Peace,” which she had painted with her own distinct, careful strokes.
“You’re obviously gifted. Where does this come from?” Oprah asked Akiane. “It comes from God,” the young prodigy replied confidently.
Akiane, a 10-year-old, was asked how she knows it’s God speaking to her in an interview.She responded: “Because I can hear His voice. His voice is quiet and beautiful.”
Oddly, Akiane’s family is not religious, and when she was growing up in the small town of Idaho, the idea of God was never brought up.
“It wasn’t just art that was happening. Simultaneous with art was a spiritual awakening,” said Akiane’s mother, Forelli Kramarik, who grew up in an atheistic family from Lithuania. “It all began to happen when she started to share her dreams and visions. And my husband was a former Catholic and did not share in the family beliefs. We didn’t pray together, there was no discussion about God, and we didn’t go to church. Then all of a sudden, Akiane was starting to talk about God.”
According to Akiane’s mother, she was homeschooled, did not have babysitters or a television, and was not influenced by anyone outside the home.. “We were with the kids all the time, and so these words from Akiane about God didn’t come from the outside–we knew that. But there suddenly were intense conversations about God’s love, His place [in our lives], and she would describe everything in detail.”
Akiane detailed how a vision she has had since she was a young child served as the inspiration for the painting.She promised to use poetry and other writing to describe her visions, but it turned out to be too late. “complex to describe through words so I painted.”
She said, “I always think about Jesus and talk about Him. I was looking for a [Jesus] model for a long, 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.”
After the family prayed, a very tall carpenter—who looked exactly like Jesus and was also a carpenter—appeared at their door seeking employment. Akiane remembered how she almost passed out when she saw him.. “I told my mother that that was him. I want him to be my model,” she recalls.
Akiane created the “Prince of Peace,” a rare work of art that is famous worldwide, based on the dream vision and utilizing the carpenter as a model.
“Prince of Peace” was sent to an exhibition but was later taken because it displayed vibrant and precise techniques, unusual for such a young artist. A few years later, it was ultimately sent back to Akiane; however, it had been covered in sawdust during shipping, which she meticulously cleaned off.
When a typing error resulted in the painting being displayed for sale rather than exhibition, the family’s attempts to share Akiane’s spiritually inspired portrait with the world encountered obstacles.
After “Prince of Peace” was sold to a private collector and Akiane lost a protracted legal battle to regain the work, which was kept in a dark stairway, she concentrated on producing new works that won her widespread acclaim.
Not willing to give up, Akiane—whose talents had saved her family from poverty—believed she would one day see her “Prince of Peace” again. In the meantime, she traveled to more than 30 countries, giving art advice to a variety of people and spreading her message of peace and spirituality. By selling more than 100,000 copies, she also contributed to preserving the legacy of the “Prince of Peace.”
There was a miracle in 2019.
“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.”
Akiane cautiously unwrapped her amazing gift after nearly two decades. “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.
Even for those who do not share Akiane Kramarik’s religion, it is difficult not to be impressed by her exceptional talent for producing such lifelike artwork. What is your favorite item of hers that you have seen?