CHELSEA, MANHATTAN – At just 9 years old, German-born artist Mikail Akar has created profound works of abstract art and travels abroad to showcase his work.

A stop on his world tour is the High Line Nine Gallery in New York – his favorite city, he told PIX11 News.

“It’s really cool here and all the people here are really friendly to me,” Akar said.

His family discovered his talent after his fourth birthday when they didn’t gift him the alleged Legos or shiny toy cars.

“I [got] a canvas and some finger paint then the next day I [drew] a photo,” Akar said.

His manager, Alex Washkovick, said Mikail’s mother came home from work and saw this painting. Initially, she didn’t think her son was the one who did it.

“[She] asked the dad if the dad painted the picture and he said “No, I think it was Mikail” and they started giving Mikail more and more canvases, more and more paints, and that kind of took off from there,” Washkovick said.

Mikail is known in the art community as “Young Picasso”, but his father says he is a normal kid with many friends his own age. The boy also likes to play football and instruments.

The exhibition is titled “Colorful: New York” and Christian Maxwell, the gallery’s executive director, is honored to have his work on display.

“Mikail has such a kind and compassionate personality,” Maxwell said. “He is so creative. He’s such an eloquent speaker and I think the way that interacts with the art, it’s something that really inspired a lot of parents in our neighborhood and a lot of kids in our neighborhood.

Mikail returns home to Germany on Wednesday to rest before the next leg of his international tour, but the exhibition will be held at the High Line Nine Gallery until April 30.