Art Remembrances to Enjoy at Home Top-Selling Gifts at Art Museum Shops

By Karen Appold

Gift merchandise comes in all shapes and sizes at art museum gift shops. Ashton Valerio , operations manager of the Chihuly Collection presented by the Morean Arts Center in Saint Petersburg, Fla., reported that the Chihuly Studios pergola umbrella (both the mini and stick versions) is the museum’s bestselling gift item because it's not only a souvenir, but also a unique piece of functional artwork.

An elegant black umbrella on the exterior, a multicolored rainbow greets users on the underside as a highly detailed display of a Chihuly Persian Ceiling dazzles, Valerio said. The Chihuly Collection is a permanent collection of world-renowned artist Dale Chihuly, who is credited with transforming the methods of creating glass art and thereby leading the development of complex, multi-part glass sculptures and environmental art.

“Even though Saint Petersburg is known as the ‘Sunshine City,’ Florida summers mean rain,” Valerio said. “Visitors might arrive on a sunny day and leave in a torrential downpour.”

The Chihuly Collection Catalog, an elegant hardcover book full of high-quality pictures of all the gallery’s artwork, is another top seller at the 1,200-square-foot gift shop. “Even though photography of Chihuly's amazing glass pieces is encouraged, sometimes visitors may not think their personal pictures do a work justice,” Valerio said.

For glass aficionados, there’s a small selection of local glass artists who work in junction with the Morean Arts Center to provide a gift that guests without a ‘Chihuly budget’ can purchase. Some of the popular choices include Kiss drops, wine stoppers, and flowers, Valerio said.

For Sarah Graves , manager of visitor engagement at the Montgomery Museum of Fine Arts in Montgomery, Ala., postcards featuring images of the collection’s popular works as well as those made by local artists are top sellers because of their nostalgia aspect and low price point. Jewelry from a variety of local artists is also popular because of the unique offerings and connection to local art and artists. Catalogues also sell well at the 400-square-foot shop because of a connection to works

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Art Remembrances (From page 82) on view and visitors’ desire to learn more about the collection, artists, and exhibitions.

Sathya Balakumar , director of merchandise at the Museum of Arts and Design in New York City, said Meg Cohen’s Whisper Cashmere scarves fly off the shelves because they’re the perfect mix of luxury and accessibility. “They’re made of warm, featherweight cashmere and can be gifted to anyone, for any occasion, year-round,” she said.

Wendy Lubovich’s book, “Museums in New York That You Must Not Miss,” is beloved by many because it covers all of the bases for art-loving customers. “Just by flipping through it, you feel as though you have gone on a whirlwind tour of all the best institutions in the city,” Balakumar said. “It’s organized, easy-to-read format, allows readers to dig deeper into the places that spark their interest, and gives them all of the information needed to plan a trip.”

Jewelry by Margo Morrison stands out among other artists with its impressive opaqueness and incredible gem tones, Balakumar said. A bold semi-precious large stone necklace highlights Morrison’s broad range of colors and her versatility as a designer.

Salina Cardias , director of museum visitor engagement at the Harn Museum of Art in Gainesville, Fla., also said that jewelry is a popular item at the gift shop. Handmade beaded earrings and necklaces by local artist Sally Stein are top sellers. These gemstone creations are made from materials such as smoky quartz, onyx, turquoise, crystal hematite, and citrine. “With a price tag of under $20 each, they’re affordable one-of-a-kind gifts,” she said.

The Harn’s Florida Art Collection custom-designed notecards and notecard sets are also best-sellers. These cards feature works by celebrated artists such as John Singer Sargent, Winslow Homer, Martin Johnson Heade, and Thomas Moran. “Notecards are a great way for visitors to take home a souvenir, especially if we have a product featuring their favorite artwork,” Cardias said.

Being an art museum on the University of Florida campus means a wide age range of visitors—from weekend tourists to groups of college students. Stickers are a part of college campus culture and are currently popular. “From water bottles to laptops, we’re thrilled that college-age visitors are purchasing our Harn logo and painting Gator (University of Florida’s mascot) stickers as an expression of their identity and what they support,” Cardias said.

Expensive Gifts

Regarding higher priced merchandise, Valerio said the shop offers Chihuly studio edition glass art and fine art prints. “These items, while a significant financial investment, are a chance to actually purchase the artwork that draws guests to visit the collection,” he said. “A visitor taking Chihuly glass home with them, from an artist who is no longer active in their craft, is a rare and special experience. Graves said that the most expensive offerings tend to be full-size paintings created by local artists. “These unique works of art appeal to collectors and art aficionados who wish to support local creators,” she said. Locally made sculptures, particularly ceramic and stone kitchenware, also have a higher price point appeal to visitors as something that is both functional and a work of art.

Fine jewelry is the highest priced gift category at the Museum of Arts and Design’s shops. “We believe these products sell well because this medium allows the oneof-a-kind nature of the work to shine,” Balakumar said. “All fine jewelry is made by human hands, which is apparent to customers at first glance.”

Art and jewelry by local artists are some of the Harn’s higher priced items as well. “The Harn collaborates with local artists to sell works on consignment, providing profits to both the artists and museum,” Cardias said. “Many visitors come to the Harn store to buy unique gifts created locally.”

Connecting Merchandise to Missions

All of the merchandise at the Montgomery Museum of Fine Arts’ gift shop is either related to its collection and works on view or has been created by local artists. Founded by local artists in 1930, the museum has a long history of supporting local and regional arts and artists, and ties into the museum’s mission of raising the vibrancy of the community. Sixty percent of artist consignment proceeds go to the artists, with the remaining amount funding programs that support emerging and career artists.

Gift shop merchandise connects to the Museum of Arts and Designs by being handmade and functional. “When selecting work to represent the shop, we consider if an item will make our customers’ days more fun and enjoyable, even if only because of the beauty that comes along with that everyday item,” Balakumar said.

All products offered in the 660-square-foot gift shop relate back to the Harn’s mission of inspiring, educating, and enriching visitors’ lives through art, Cardias said.