Monday, October 8, 2012

Is the future of art at....Costco?

Costco is reportedly doing well selling fine art prints on its website. So well that many are sold out. It is not a new art business model by any means. Sears did this through their catalog aeons ago, during the age of paper. Is this reaching a previously un-or-lightly tapped sector of the art market, claiming part of the gallery clientele, or both? The department store consumerist model might work better today than before. As you can see below, these are loud and colorful decorative prints and if one goes through the site, some border on outright kitsch. They have had lesser prints from some well-known artists, and it is those that have sold out.

[From the Costco page...]

Costco Framed Prints - Cousins Framed Print by Debbie Brown
Ships Within 3 Business Days
Millions of Frame & Mat Combinations
Costco Framed Prints - Concord California Summer 1 Framed Print by Richard W Linford
Ships Within 3 Business Days
Millions of Frame & Mat Combinations
Costco Framed Prints - Concord California Spring 1 Framed Print by Richard W Linford
Ships Within 3 Business Days
Millions of Frame & Mat Combinations
Costco Framed Prints - Concord California Oak 1 Framed Print by Richard W Linford
Ships Within 3 Business Days
Millions of Frame & Mat Combinations

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