Marla Olmstead

Child artist Marla Olmstead began attracting media attention in 2004 for her abstract paintings which drew comparisons to the work of Pablo Picasso.¹

Fast Facts

1. Born: 2000
2. Birthplace: Bighampton, New York
3. Has been compared to Jackson Pollack and Pablo Picasso²
4. Paintings have sold for thousands of dollars
5. Some have alleged that her father is actually responsible for her work²

My Kid Could Paint That

Olmstead was the subject of the documentary film My Kid Could Paint That which debuted in 2007 at the Sundance Film Festival.

Controversy

Questions have been raised regarding the authenticity to Olmstead's work. Some believe her father, also a painter, may have contributed to the paintings.

The CBS news program 60 Minutes conducted an investigation on Marla Olmstead in 2005 which questioned the authenticity of her work. A child psychologist appeared on the program stating that she did not believe Olmstead was a child prodigy.²

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