Sculpture by Alissa Goss

I consider myself a burgeoning art collector, which, in real-life terms means that my apartment has lots of bare white walls to bedeck. There are three major hurdles preventing said adornment: First, I'm a starving writer, and last time I checked, pauperism doesn't jive well with a preference for original works. Second, I don't have a sophisticated appreciation for art. (Remember, I like "pretty" things—not exactly a narrow berth.) Third, as you know, I'm lazy. You can imagine, then, my utter elation when I discovered the new Art in a Box subscription program by Matt and Lena Reynoso, founders of the Compound Gallery in Oakland, CA. For a mere $50/month (three-month minimum), a surprise piece of original art by an up-and-coming Bay Area artist is delivered straight to your door. Yep, like a magazine. Or a bacon-of-the-month.

Artists featured from left to right: Jaime Lakatos, Lena Reynoso, Ben Belknap

While you can't choose the artist or the piece you'd like to receive, you can indicate your preference in mediums (painting, photography, mixed media, etc.). And, if you can actually articulate your taste in art in three words or less, that lexicon is also valuable to Matt and Lena. Between that intel, a belief that Fate will bring you the perfect piece of art, and the knowledge that each original work is worth much more than the $50/month subscriber fee, Art in a Box is practically a fool-proof adventure. Best tolerated by the anti-control freak, of course. (Although rehabilitated control freaks have shown some receptivity to the element of surprise.)

Artists featured clockwise from top left: Kerri Johnson, Crystal Morey, Martin Webb, Shannon Ingraham

[Images: Lena Reynoso]

0 Comments