Where to Buy Cool Kitchen Art for Every Aesthetic (and Budget)
Because your meals deserve some delightful ambiance, whether from a vintage Herman Miller hot dog poster or a framed painting of sardines
When I hear the words “kitchen art,” I inevitably think of some cringe faux wood signage — you know, the kind hailing from the Live Laugh Love extended universe that reads, “the secret ingredient is always love” (it’s not; It’s MSG!). And while it is entirely possible to find cool kitchen art that doesn’t belong on the Hallmark Channel, it takes a bit more research to find a beautiful, affordable piece that’s worthy of your walls or shelves.
There is art, for example, that becomes kitchen art by virtue of the fact that it’s hung next to your pot rack. But there is also kitchen art that pays homage to the many foods and beverages you love, or scenes that evoke places of culinary importance; happily cluttered cafe tables, bustling fish markets, and romantic still life oil paintings are all fare fodder for souping up your kitchen’s ambiance.
Below, I have outlined my favorite places to buy kitchen art online. As a longtime shopping writer and passionate home decor enthusiast who checks Facebook marketplace about five times a day frequently, I’ve seasoned my taste for nice art from decades of trekking to estate sales, sniffing out authentic antique stoneware jugs and lithographs, and curating objects of whimsy that make me feel like a millennial Tony Duquette (or at least a person with a nice landscape painting from Etsy). There’s a storefront for every budget and level of savoir faire, from the seasoned collector to folks who just want a one-stop-shop for a pre-framed, ready-to-hang snapshot of the Côte d’Azur or a showstopping vase for their kitchen island. If you can dream it, you can find (some version of it) on the world wide web.
Let’s dress up the most important room in your house.
The Best Online Art Stores
1stDibs
Ideal for: Antique and contemporary art
1stDibs is a design- and antique-lover’s haven for all kinds of treasures, and while it boasts some seriously expensive items (see: this original Chagall) it also has quite a few original oil paintings for under $400, including this cheery lobster, and an abundance of shelf-worthy antique objects with truckloads of whimsy, such as botanical mushroom sculptures and Delft spoon racks, and century-old British lithographs of grapes.
Cevallos Bros.
Ideal for: Supporting local, longtime artists from NYC
As someone living in New York City, I would not forgive myself for omitting the Cevallos Bros., a duo of brothers that has been hand-painting signage for the city’s most beloved taco trucks, bars, and restaurants since the 1960s. The brothers also take commissions by Instagram direct message — you know, so you can pay homage to your partner’s favorite dumpling spot, dance hall, or whatever else you love. The duo’s designs are frequently sold out on the Cevallos Bros.’ website, but there are also prints available at Neighborhood Spot.
Chairish
Ideal for: Unique prints, posters, and wall accents, directly from artists or antique dealers
Much like its storied contemporary 1stDibs, Chairish is a vast online retailer for all things antique, vintage, and art-forward, from ceramics and tableware to photo prints and original oil paintings of, say, martini olives. Prices vary wildly (and skew expensive), but many sellers on the platform accept offers, so haggling and negotiating isn’t just permitted — it’s encouraged.
Etsy
Ideal for: Unique and thrifted finds from indie shops
Etsy is filled with great kitchen art options for the MCM collector, the Nancy Meyers fan, the perpetual DIY-project-seeker, and every other kind of Pinterest person. Lately, I have been bookmarking its many antique-inspired still lifes and oil painting prints to recreate the ambiance of the 19th century Loire Valley estate in The Taste of Things. This trio of miniature oil painting prints would look great hanging by your spice rack.
Drool Art
Ideal for: Art that looks like it belongs in a very cool loft
Drool offers a wide array of contemporary prints and posters with an emphasis on the postmodern, the psychedelic, and the surreal. Even if you don’t have a converted industrial loft in Tribeca or Echo Park, Drool is a great source for super-affordable, conversation-starting pieces that are more unique than what you’ll find at most print-and-ship online art stores — and has a surprisingly cool variety of food-centric art, like this notable dreamy print of a butterfly living up to its name, or this homage to tingly Sichuan peppercorns.
The Met Store
Ideal for: The fine arts fan
The Metropolitan Museum of New York’s online store allows you to access the many (many) reprints of the storied museum’s collections, so you can choose to eat a tomato under a burnt-orange Rothko, sip coffee by a Georgia O’Keeffe cow skull, or pour a tisane by a 19th-century French teacup poster reproduction. If you don’t want to browse by artist, you can also explore the art by subjects (interiors, animals, still life, etc.).
Minted
Ideal for: Affordable and highly-customizable prints
Minted offers so many options for customizing its vast array of prints, including a variety of frames and the ability to print your art on canvas, which is especially clever if your art was originally an oil painting (and you want to achieve that freshly-painted look). It even has a “View Art in Your Room” feature so that you can preview pieces in your home. If you’re still waiting to brighten up your coffee corner, look no further than this homage to the Moka pot.
Saatchi Art
Ideal for: Beginner art collectors
Saatchi Art is the perfect place to kick off a serious art collection, because it’s filled with original paintings, sculptures, photography, as well as plenty of more affordable prints from bygone and contemporary artists. There is also an Art Advisor feature, which will connect you with a Saatchi art expert who can guide you through the collections. I would suggest searching “still life” to uncover some of the site’s best paintings and prints of rice bowls, strawberries, or this gauzy pastel of fruits and vegetables.
Society6
Ideal for: Affordable, customizable prints from indie creators
Society6 is like a more affordable version of Minted, and one with a slightly more millennial feel; the site is filled with reproductions of original art (think, Joshua Tree van snapshots or illustrated cafe scenes) that can also take the form of not only prints but shower curtains, pillows, and throws. Plus, you can browse by color, subject, and medium, and there’s a variety of framing options.
Wall of Art
Ideal for: Minimalist prints from contemporary artists
I appreciate Wall of Art’s non-cluttered approach to hawking its goods. The site is filled with mostly minimalist prints by contemporary artists, and a smaller selection of original pieces that usually sell out quickly, and it really shines when it comes to abstract pieces with bold pops of color, or atmospheric table scene reprints.
More Great Places to Buy Affordable Art Online
Amazon
Ideal for: Affordable, vintage-inspired food and drink posters and frames; fast shipping
The retail behemoth is filled with some surprisingly beautiful and affordable kitchen prints, including vintage Barilla ads with pasta-filled night skies, Matisse kitchen scenes, and this Quinquina-inspired poster for Francophiles and lobster-lovers. There are also plenty of affordable frame options, which can otherwise become one of the most expensive parts of finalizing your wall art.
CB2
Ideal for: Statement bowls
The cool younger sibling of Crate & Barrel, CB2 has an ear to the ground when it comes to trendy home decor items. Still, it usually manages to make even its most time-sensitive drops feel timeless and elevated (case in point: the new White Lotus-inspired home collection, which has some great cocktail accessories). Our favorite category at the modern furniture purveyor is its many dreamy, decorative bowls, which range from abstract Murano glass pieces to this hypnotic stainless steel and onyx bowl.
Design Within Reach
Ideal for: The midcentury-modern design enthusiast
Design Within Reach — or DWR, as it’s known amongst your Eames-chair-loving friends — is the internet’s go-to emporium for all things mid-century-modern and Scandinavian design. You will also find the occasional graphic food poster within its design-forward bounty, including this limited-run reproduction of a hot dog poster that was designed for a 1970s Herman Miller company picnic (a fact your next Hinge date will surely appreciate).
Goodee
Ideal for: Globally sourced art and home decor from a Black-owned marketplace
Goodee is a Black-owned marketplace filled with hand-woven Ghanaian bike baskets, Nordic garden pottery, Spanish-made mohair throws, and, on occasion, a prime piece of art for your kitchen. This fish-themed clay vessel, for example, was commissioned exclusively for Goodee from the Cairo-based brand ANŪT, and functions as a versatile bud vase and candelabra.
Urban Outfitters
Ideal for: Trendy pieces from cool design houses
Ah, Urban Outfitters. You’re beloved for your parachute pants and seemingly unending supply of Crosley suitcase record players, but inside your hallowed aughts-millennial halls, there’s also the occasional kitchen decor art standout, such as this condiment art print from the (very fancy) folks at the Netherlands-based PSTR Studio.
And, of course, don’t forget to support your local thrift and antique stores. I just know there’s one in your area with the perfect ceramic wall sconces.
