Akiane Kramarik created an amazing painting called “Prince of Peace” when she was just 8 years old. This beautiful picture of Jesus was lost for 16 years after it was stolen and sold by mistake, but now it has been found and is no longer hidden away.
Now a 28-year-old best-selling author, entrepreneur, and philanthropist, Akiane is known for her amazing spiritual artwork created with her almost magical brushstrokes. She talked about how she felt a strong “visionary inspiration” to paint her famous piece, “Prince of Peace,” which she sees as a powerful example for people everywhere.
When she was just nine years old, she was on the Oprah Show, showcasing her incredible art, which seemed to overshadow her small size. One of her standout pieces was a beautiful portrait of Jesus called “Prince of Peace,” made with her special and careful techniques.
“You have a real talent. Where does it come from?” Oprah asked Akiane.
“It comes from God,” the young artist answered with confidence.
In another interview when she was 10, Akiane was asked how she knew it was God talking to her. She said, “Because I can hear His voice. His voice is quiet and beautiful.”
Akiane’s family wasn’t religious at all, and they never talked about God in their small Idaho home where she grew up.
Her mom, Forelli Kramarik, who came from a non-religious family in Lithuania, said, “It wasn’t just about art; it was also a spiritual awakening. It all started when Akiane began sharing her dreams and visions. My husband used to be Catholic but didn’t follow those beliefs. We didn’t pray together, talk about God, or go to church. Then suddenly, Akiane started mentioning God.”
Since Akiane was homeschooled and didn’t have babysitters or a TV, her mom explained that no outside influences affected her. “We were always with the kids, so we knew Akiane’s words about God didn’t come from anywhere else. But then, she began having deep conversations about God’s love and His role in our lives, describing everything in detail.”
Akiane shared that her painting was inspired by a vision she had since she was very young. She would express her visions through poetry and writing, but it became too complicated to explain with words, so she decided to paint instead.
She said, “I always think about Jesus and talk about Him. I searched for a model of Jesus for a long time, and when I couldn’t find one, I suggested to my family that we pray all day for God to send the right one.”
A family was praying when a very tall carpenter, similar to Jesus who was also a carpenter, showed up at their door looking for a job. Akiane remembered almost fainting when she saw him. “I told my mom that was him. I want him to be my model,” she said.
Inspired by a dream and using the carpenter as her model, Akiane created the painting called “Prince of Peace,” which is now considered priceless and famous all over the world.
Her painting showed amazing detail and skill for someone so young. It was sent to an exhibition but got stolen on the way. A few years later, it was returned to Akiane, but it arrived covered in sawdust, which she carefully cleaned off.
When the family tried to share Akiane’s spiritually-inspired artwork with everyone, they faced more problems because of a clerical mistake that put the painting up for sale instead of in an exhibition.
“Prince of Peace” ended up being sold to a private collector. After a long court battle to get it back, which ended with the painting stored in a dark stairwell, Akiane decided to focus on creating new artworks, all of which received worldwide acclaim.
Despite the challenges, Akiane, whose talent helped lift her family out of poverty, held onto hope that she would see her “Prince of Peace” again. In the meantime, she traveled to over 30 countries, talking to different groups about art and sharing her messages of peace and spirituality. She also kept the memory of “Prince of Peace” alive by selling more than 100,000 prints.
In 2019, a miracle happened.
A family, known for being very distinguished and respected, bought the painting “Prince of Peace” for $850,000. They want to remain anonymous. This family believes it is their duty to take care of the artwork and ensure it is preserved for future generations, so its inspiring story can reach even more people.
After nearly 20 years, Akiane finally unwrapped her beloved painting, “Prince of Peace.” Overcome with emotion, she knelt down and wiped away her tears. In a recent CBS interview, she expressed how incredible it was to see her artwork again after so long.
She added, “It still feels unreal to me. I won’t lie… Love is incredibly strong. It always arrives just when people need it the most.”
The painting “Prince of Peace” is part of the exhibit “Akiane: The Early Years” at the Belóved Gallery in Marble Falls, TX.
Akiane Kramarik has an extraordinary gift and even for those who do not share in her faith, it’s hard not to appreciate her talent in creating such realistic pieces. If you’ve seen her work, what is your favorite piece?
