Ozzy Osbourne’s Final Stroke of Genius: Painting with Chimps in Charity Auction
In a surprising twist to his farewell tour, Ozzy Osbourne has created a heartfelt collaboration with rescued chimpanzees from Florida’s Save the Chimps sanctuary—selling the resulting artworks to support animal welfare.
Recently retired from touring due to chronic pain and advanced Parkinson’s disease, Osbourne, 76, turned to painting therapy. He painted five canvas backgrounds inspired by his classic songs—“Paranoid,” “Blizzard of Ozz” and more—and invited chimpanzees at the sanctuary to add their own artistic flourishes . The finished pieces, emotionally titled after his hits, are now being auctioned on Omega Auctions, with proceeds benefiting the chimp rescue organization.
Dan Mathews of Save the Chimps described the unique merger of human and primate creativity as “the wildest artistic collaboration of all time” . Around 10 % of the chimpanzees engage in these non-toxic painting sessions, which serve as both enrichment and therapeutic expression for animals with PTSD from lab environments or wildlife trafficking .
Equally compelling is Osbourne’s emotional reaction upon seeing the finished pieces: he was moved to tears after receiving a paintbrush used by a chimp as a memento . The artwork titles—Paranoid, Blizzard of Ozz, Electric Funeral, Tattooed Dancer, and Technical Ecstasy—connect the partnership to his rock legacy .
This initiative follows Osbourne’s recently retired “Back to the Beginning” farewell concert with Black Sabbath on July 5 in Birmingham. That monumental show reunited the original lineup for the first time in two decades, drew 40,000 fans (and millions online), and raised £140 million (approx. $190 million) for charities supporting Parkinson’s research and children’s care .
Now, through these chimp-painted canvases, Ozzy shows his artistic soul isn’t bound to the stage. Even in retirement, he’s finding new ways to make an impact—whether through music, visual art, or compassionate action.