Prince ProfileA Sydney-based artist who painted a mural in tribute to Prince has had his work recognised by the family of the late music icon.
As ABC reports, Graham Hoete's mural, painted in Chanhassen, was received so well by Minnesota locals that a presentation of the work was held in the city after its completion late last month.
"There was one lady who came up to me during the presentation and she slipped a piece of paper in my hand and pulled me aside and said 'This is serious, you need to read this, this is from Prince's brother, he's in the car round the back'," the New Zealand born artist said.
All pics via Mr G Hoete Art Facebook page.
"They needed to be discrete because they didn't want to be swamped by all the Prince fans there, so I rang him the next day when things settled down and he basically said 'Mr G, I want to deeply thank you on behalf of myself and my family for the amazing mural that you've done in honour of the Prince'.
"He said the family wants to meet me and then he said 'I'd like to get your details and your wife's details and I'd like to personally invite you to Prince's memorial in August'. That was an amazing moment."
Hoete appealed for funding to head to the US earlier this year after an initial Prince mural he painted in Sydney went viral and he believes this is why Prince's family approached him.
"They understand and acknowledge the price this had and I think they were touched that someone had come all this way to do that," he said.
"I think they felt it would be fitting to reciprocate by inviting me to the memorial.
"I wasn't doing it for that. It was a huge surprise and I am deeply humbled by it."
Hoete confirmed he and his wife will head back to the US next month for the memorial. Check out his Facebook page here.
