Congo (chimpanzee)

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Congo was the name of a chimpanzee who learned to paint on paper and canvas, under the egis of zoologist, ethologist, and surrealist painter Desmond Morris. He was most productive in the late 1950s. His style has been identified with abstract impressionism.

Reactions of contemporary art critics to his paintings ranged from scorn to skepticism. However, Pablo Picasso is said to have hung a painting of Congo's in his studio.

Bizarrely, Congo's paintings have outsold works by Renoir and Warhol in a recent auction. American collector Howard Hong recently purchased three of Congo's works for US$26,000. [1]