ABSTRACT ART isn’t everybody’s cup of tea, but a forthcoming exhibition at one New York gallery is bit more unusual than most.

The artist is four years old.

The youngest professional painter in the world, Aelita Andre has been painting since she was in nappies and incorporates feathers, leaves, twigs, and toys into her paintings.

Her parents Michael and Nikka Andre paint as a hobby but deny helping or forcing her to create her pieces. They say on their daughter’s website that she began painting as a toddler at her play group and became ‘obsessed’ with painting. In an interview with the Herald Sun, her father said the young child becomes angry if anyone attempts to tell her what colours to use.

Andre has produce over 250 paintings to date, one of which fetched over €20,000 at a sale in Hong Kong last year.

The Agora Gallery describes the child’s art as “compelling” for its lightness and “carefree approach”:

Colours are pure, forms unfettered, resulting in an immediacy and spontaneity that renders each painting unique.

Her solo exhibition at the Agola Gallery in New York opens tomorrow and runs until 25 June.

Video: Aelta Andre at work in her studio: