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This is Brent. Brent is a 37-year-old chimpanzee who lives at Chimp Haven, a sanctuary in Keithville, La. According to popular opinion, he’s also the greatest chimpanzee artist America has to offer.

Brent’s painting won first place in the Humane Society of the United State’s Chimpanzee Art Contest, garnering the most public votes during the online voting period, which ended last week. Sanctuaries for chimps retired from medical research or the entertainment industry use painting to keep their primate friends entertained.

All six of the chimp sanctuaries that submitted a work of chimp-created art received a $500 grant. As a top winner, Brent earned his sanctuary an additional $10,000 grant from the Humane Society. What’s his secret? Well, some might say it’s his unorthodox style. A true avant-garde artist, he only paints with his tongue.

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Brent’s Tongue Art

Cheetah, a former lab chimp, got a little extra love–in addition to placing second in the public voting portion of the contest, his artwork was the chosen favorite of famed chimpanzee researcher Jane Goodall.

Cheetah is a chimpanzee who lives at Save the Chimps in Ft. Pierce, Fla. The Artist formerly known as Cheetah: Cheetah, estimated to be born in the 1970's, lived alone in a laboratory for 13 years and endured over 400 over biopsies. He was rescued by Save the Chimps in 2002 and has since discovered his passion for painting.

Cheetah

Cheetah is a chimpanzee who lives at Save the Chimps in Ft. Pierce, Fla. The Artist formerly known as Cheetah: Cheetah, estimated to be born in the 1970’s, lived alone in a laboratory for 13 years and endured over 400 over biopsies. He was rescued by Save the Chimps in 2002 and has since discovered his passion for painting.
Artwork by Cheetah, a chimpanzee at Save the Chimps in Ft. Pierce, Fla. The Artist formerly known as Cheetah: Cheetah, estimated to be born in the 1970's, lived alone in a laboratory for 13 years and endured over 400 over biopsies. He was rescued by Save the Chimps in 2002 and has since discovered his passion for painting. Keywords: chimp, art, contest

Cheetah’s Artwork

Artwork by Cheetah, a chimpanzee at Save the Chimps in Ft. Pierce, Fla. The Artist formerly known as Cheetah: Cheetah, estimated to be born in the 1970’s, lived alone in a laboratory for 13 years and endured over 400 over biopsies. He was rescued by Save the Chimps in 2002 and has since discovered his passion for painting. Keywords: chimp, art, contest

Third place went to Ripley, a former actor who now lives in at the Center for Great Apes in Florida.

Ripley is a chimpanzee who lives at Center for Great Apes in Wauchula, Fla. Like many chimpanzees used as actors, Ripley was eventually dumped in a roadside zoo. There, he witnessed the shooting death of his brother and two other chimp companions after human error resulted in the chimpanzees’ escape. Ripley found sanctuary at Center for Great Apes and impresses his caretakers with his resilience and forgiveness.

Ripley

Ripley is a chimpanzee who lives at Center for Great Apes in Wauchula, Fla. Like many chimpanzees used as actors, Ripley was eventually dumped in a roadside zoo. There, he witnessed the shooting death of his brother and two other chimp companions after human error resulted in the chimpanzees’ escape. Ripley found sanctuary at Center for Great Apes and impresses his caretakers with his resilience and forgiveness.
Artwork by Ripley, a chimpanzee at Center for Great Apes in Wauchula, Fla. Like many chimpanzees used as actors, Ripley was eventually dumped in a roadside zoo. There, he witnessed the shooting death of his brother and two other chimp companions after human error resulted in the chimpanzees’ escape. Ripley found sanctuary at Center for Great Apes and impresses his caretakers with his resilience and forgiveness. Keywords: chimp, art, contest

Ripley’s Art

Artwork by Ripley, a chimpanzee at Center for Great Apes in Wauchula, Fla. Like many chimpanzees used as actors, Ripley was eventually dumped in a roadside zoo. There, he witnessed the shooting death of his brother and two other chimp companions after human error resulted in the chimpanzees’ escape. Ripley found sanctuary at Center for Great Apes and impresses his caretakers with his resilience and forgiveness. Keywords: chimp, art, contest

Keep an eye out–the contest masterpieces will go up for auction on eBay at some point soon, according to the Humane Society. The money will go to the North American Primate Sanctuary Alliance.

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