Farewell to Pigcasso, the artist who really brought home the bacon: 'Extraordinary' piggy whose lifetime of paintings fetched a million dollars after she was saved from the slaughterhouse dies in South Africa

A pig whose lifetime of paintings fetched a million dollars after she was saved from the slaughterhouse has died in South Africa. 

Owner Joanne Lefson, 52, announced the passing of her beloved eight-year-old Pigcasso who had been suffering from chronic Rheumatoid arthritis.

Images show the animal beaming as she paints on a canvas at her home and beside the sea.

In her lifetime, Pigcasso sold her artwork worldwide to celebrities such as Ed Westwick, Rafael Nadal and animal expert Dr Jane Goodall.

Lefson rescued her in May 2016 from a factory farm in South Africa just weeks before she would have been sent to the slaughterhouse.

Pigcasso was taken to Farm Sanctuary SA, a non-profit foundation that provides a safe sanctuary setting for rescued farm animals in Franschhoek.

Lefson said: 'There is much sadness that such an inspiring figure for welfare animals has passed, but we also celebrate a life well-lived and the profound difference she made.

Pigcasso with a red nose after a painting session. Lefson rescued the animal in May 2016 from a factory farm in South Africa just weeks before she would have been sent to the slaughterhouse

Joanne Lefson, 52, with a smiling Pigcasso. Lefson said: 'There is much sadness that such an inspiring figure for welfare animals has passed, but we also celebrate a life well-lived and the profound difference she made'

Pigcasso painting beautiful scenery in South Africa. She was taken to Farm Sanctuary SA, a non-profit foundation that provides a safe sanctuary setting for rescued farm animals in Franschhoek

'Pigcasso would have become bacon bit within 6 months of age. Instead, she was saved and rose to inspire millions of people to reconsider what they eat through her extraordinary talent. Her legacy continues through the sanctuary and our mission to inspire a kinder, more sustainable world for all.

'While Pigcasso had already shown symptoms of arthritis over the past few years, her physical condition rapidly deteriorated in September 2023.

'By early October, both of her back legs had become lame due to the calcification of her lower spine aggravated by the arthritis; both incurable conditions directly linked with the manipulations and modifications that farm animals are subjected to on today's industrialised factory farms.'

Pigcasso's popularity grew and by 2018 she became the first animal artist to host a solo art exhibition, which was held at the V&A Waterfront in Cape Town, South Africa.

Since then she has hosted exhibitions across the globe, including in the Netherlands, Germany, France, China and the United Kingdom.

Pigcasso holding a brush in her mouth as she paints. Lefson said: 'Pigcasso would have become bacon bit within 6 months of age. Instead, she was saved and rose to inspire millions of people to reconsider what they eat through her extraordinary talent'

Joanne Lefson and Pigcasso. Lefson said: 'From the moment the piglet arrived, she ate or destroyed everything except a paintbrush that had been left in her stall'

Pigcasso painting. Lefson added: 'I was intrigued by her interest in the brush and decided to see if she may want to paint. I modified the brush to fit her mouth and it didn't take long before 'Pigcasso' was creating art across a canvas that I had placed into her stall'

Pigcasso at work beside the sea. Her popularity grew and by 2018 she became the first animal artist to host a solo art exhibition, which was held at the V&A Waterfront in Cape Town, South Africa

Pigcasso standing proud next to one of the artworks. Lefson said: 'Pigcasso raised over $1milllion from the sale of her artworks - making her the most successful non-human artist in world history'

Lefson said: 'From the moment the piglet arrived, she ate or destroyed everything except a paintbrush that had been left in her stall.

'I was intrigued by her interest in the brush and decided to see if she may want to paint. I modified the brush to fit her mouth and it didn't take long before "Pigcasso" was creating art across a canvas that I had placed into her stall.'

She added: 'In 2021, Pigcasso made international headlines when she sold "WILD AND FREE" to a German buyer for £20,000 which was an official world record for the highest-selling artwork ever painted by an animal.

'Pigcasso raised over $1milllion from the sale of her artworks - making her the most successful non-human artist in world history.

'This is not only a testament to her extraordinary creativity and intelligence, but the revenue raised also benefits and sustains Farm Sanctuary SA where she lived. The funds have also supported other charities that resonate with her mission.

'Her last piece of art was called "Standing Ovation".'