Why Art Shouldn’t Only Exist in Wealthy People’s Homes

For some strange reason our society has made a lot of people believe that "only rich people have art", which is so far from the truth. Recently I had a gentleman in the gallery who was updating my internet and as he browsed the art he said something like "why is art so expensive?". He was looking at a piece that was 9k and I completely understood where he was coming from. I explained to him that every artist prices their work differently. I showed him another piece in the gallery that was only $100 and he replied "WOW I could afford that!"

Yes you can sir ... yes you can ...

The first piece of art I bought was this jean piece below. I was about 25 years old and I saw it randomly leaning against a wall at a friends studio. Pose 2, a well known graffiti artist had invited me over to take some photos of his studio and I saw it and fell in love. It was $350, I was broke and couldn't afford it. It was done by an artist friend of Pose 2 and he was holding it at his studio (so no, I don't even know the artists name). I made a bunch of payments, strapped it to the roof of my car and it was MINE. The artist cut up jeans, attached them to a square wood frame and painted over them. I love this piece more than any other piece I've ever bought. It's made out of jeans.

Living with original art changes you. The walls in your home become something that gives you a FEELING instead of just looking nice. And by looking nice I mean those pictures you buy from IKEA (eye roll). Look, I know ... they're more affordable and they're all right there pretty convenient for you to look through but ... it's not original art. You can go into any college dorm and see the print you bought from IKEA on the wall.

Original art is a conversational piece. Natalie Hope McDonald did this mini mural on one of the walls in our home and anytime someone comes over ... they stand in front of it, reading and asking questions. When I tell them how long it took and how much it was, their mouths drop. It was under $500 and it only took her about 1.5 hours.

Most art collectors don't start out with a huge collection. They buy one piece and the only reason they bought that piece was because they couldn't stop thinking about it. Then they see another piece and boom ... they're a collector. It's that easy!

At NoName Gallery, I've always wanted the art to be approachable. Really I want the whole place to be that way: from the music to the scents to the art ... I want you to feel at home when you're here. You shouldn't need an art degree to walk through a gallery, you shouldn't feel judged when you ask questions and you definitely shouldn’t feel like original art is only meant for wealthy people.

Art deserves to exist in apartments.

In first homes.

In small dining rooms.

In neighborhood businesses.

In hallways.

In spaces where real life is happening.

Because art isn’t just decoration. It’s identity, memory, energy, and connection.

Start your collection HERE