From Thrift Store Treasures to Starry Night Shenanigans – Ingrid Altmann Brings Old Art to Life with a Comical Twist

In a world that can sometimes feel a little too serious, Ingrid Altmann is on a mission to bring the fun back—one painting at a time.

The Cape Town-based artist behind the delightfully cheeky This Old Painting series has built a loyal following by rescuing forgotten thrift store artworks and giving them a hilariously imaginative new lease on life. Whether it’s Darth Vader photobombing a Victorian picnic or Casper the Friendly Ghost hovering politely in an old seascape, Ingrid’s touch transforms the mundane into magical.

“I love the idea of giving these dusty, unloved paintings a second chance—adding a little joy, a little humour, and a lot of heart,” says Ingrid. “It’s like they were just waiting for a Bart Simpson or a Mary Poppins to show up.”

Her latest creative adventure? Parody art. And it’s every bit as entertaining. Using Van Gogh’s famous Starry Night as her dreamy backdrop, Ingrid has begun inserting a new wave of playful pop culture cameos. Think Yoda gazing at the swirls of the galaxy, Tintin and Snowy chasing mystery under moonlight, and Harry Potter soaring past that iconic cypress tree on his broomstick.

“My goal is to make people smile. If someone looks at my work and laughs—or even just grins—then I feel like I’ve done something good for the day,” Ingrid explains. “There’s so much joy in the unexpected. Like, why wouldn’tBatman be lurking behind a farmhouse in a century-old landscape?”

And people are clearly loving the joy she’s spreading. Her quirky, nostalgia-laced pieces have already found homes around the country—and even a few abroad. Each artwork is one-of-a-kind, combining old-world charm with a touch of modern mischief.

Ingrid’s Instagram feed (@IngridAltmannArtist) is a visual treat for anyone needing a mood boost, filled with her most beloved characters making surprise appearances in unlikely places. The whimsy is contagious—and just might inspire you to look twice at the next dusty painting you see at a market.

“I think we all need more fun,” she laughs. “Art doesn’t have to be serious. It can be silly. It can be surprising. It can be Snoopy in a starry sky.”

And with that kind of energy, Ingrid Altmann isn’t just painting pictures—she’s painting smiles.