Art & Design Gifts Only New Yorkers Would Love
As New Yorkers, we probably need a little more creative distraction from the everyday hustle than most. So with that in mind, we’ve selected a few gifts meant to amuse, provoke, and stimulate your New York sensibilities—just in time for the holidays.
Brighten up your commute with an adult coloring book from Broad City
Humor dispels most sorrows (emphasis on the most here). “New York” humor, like Broad City, reminds us we’re not alone in this rat race and that it’s also okay to be a little odd. Channel your inner Ilana or Abbi with this wild new coloring book for adults. It’s NSFK (not safe for kids, come on) and includes scenes from your favorite episodes, mad libs, and drawing prompts.
To get out of NYC or to renew your lease? Get oracle wisdom from the artists who’ve lived before you.
These won’t help you predict whether your rent is going up next year, but they will offer sage advice from the masters. Similar to the beauty of the Rider-Waite tarot deck, these artist designed artist cards will help you decide your next move in the creative realm. Whether you’re working on a short story, a new painting series, or want to know creative ways to deal with your recent breakup, the Art Oracles deck grants a little touch of artistic wisdom and direction in a city full of options.
Keep in touch with your Westchester friends (and stay creative) with these new architects’ activity postcards.
While you’re submerged in the bustle of the Big Apple, don’t forget to keep in touch with friends and family out there in the “real” world. This pack of 20 postcards features images of futuristic cityscapes that will inspire you to create your own. It’s also a great gift for the little New Yorker in your life—you know, so they can keep in touch with Grandma while showing off their architecture skills.
Do all artists just steal or borrow their “originality” from others? Is there such a thing as an autonomous genius?
They say good artists borrow, but great artist steal. (Honestly though, who really said that? Was it Picasso? Someone with historical authority, please let us know.) Either way, this new book by Robert Shore explores exactly that—creative theft and borrowing in the digital age, including visual appropriation. It even cleverly “steals” its book cover design from Penguin, and comes complete with a little black disclaimer: “This is not a Penguin Book.” Nice.
We’re all a bunch of “know it alls” on this little urban isle, so why not put your art knowledge to the test?
What better way to test your knowledge of the art world than by playing a little game of cards? This colorful, quirky deck called “Guess the Artist” beats Cards Against Humanity any day, and you can actually learn stuff while playing. A perfect gift for that friend who majored in art history (and who happens to know “everything”), children (never too early for them to know Frida or van Gogh through symbols), and pretty much anyone who loves art.
Want more art-centric gifts this holiday season? Check out 20 art gifts under $20 here.
About the author
Amber was born in Washington, D.C. and relocated to NYC in 2007. She received an M.A. degree in Liberal Studies: Women's Studies, Gender, and Sexuality from CUNY's Graduate Center and University, and an honors B.A. in English from The City College of New York. Before coming to Culture Trip, she was the executive editor for Metropolitan Magazine, a boutique luxury lifestyle and arts publication, as well as the editor for ResidencyNY Magazine. In 2015, she also started her own company, ACS Media Services, and has over 8+ years experience as a writer/editor in the NYC area. As one of the original employees in Culture Trip’s New York City office, Amber focuses on three verticals: Design, Architecture, and Home and Interiors, exploring how creativity and design influences our contemporary social landscape. She lives in Brooklyn with her typewriter.
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