Art Brokerage: Prince Monyo’s playful bronze sculptures of children frolicking in the courtyard of of his Florida gallery will surely to catch the attention of anyone strolling through. The courtyard would not be the same without these iconic sculptures. Who is the man behind these whimsical playful sculptures? Prince Monyo has lived in Palm Beach about 30 years. Born in Bucharest, Prince Monyo Mihailescu-Nasturel Herescu is the last in the line of descendants of Romanian Voevods Kings. He has a heavy Romanian accent, loves to tell jokes and often wanders off on a tangent when telling a story. He laughs as he says, “I cannot reveal my age, because I do not want my girlfriend to find out my real age.” Prince Monyo grew up in a castle on the outskirts of Bucharest. He studied mechanical engineering at Bucharest University and then earned a Ph.D. in ancient history and religion from the University of Sorbonne, Paris. When the communists came, his family escaped in 1948 to the United States but Prince Monyo stayed behind. The communists seized his family’s fortune and businesses. During this time he escaped with some friends into the mountains where they became political revolutionaries. His friends were shot and killed, but Prince Monyo said he managed to escape with two bullet wounds. He was later captured as a political prisoner and held in solitary confinement for several years. He said his mind and memories were the only things that could wander freely. “During that time I fantasized about days spent in my childhood with my family,” he says. “The power of my mind kept me sane throughout that time. I was given an immense appreciation for life and humanity.” He came to the United States as a political refugee and met with his family in Florida in 1960s. He lived in Canada and would often travel to New York, Beverly Hills, Spain and Italy. “I never in my wildest dreams imagined I would be an artist,” he said. “I began sculpting clay figures that I had envisioned while in prison to help me cope with my thoughts.” He was taught by a friend in Canada to work with bronze; he has no formal education in sculpting.