The tiny works range from watercolors to clay sculptures to stained-glass mobiles; they’re created by more than 300 artists, including celebrated sculptor Paul DiPasquale. Half the $5 goes to the artist, $1.50 goes to the host of the machine and Whittington gets the rest. Styrofoam sculptor Jules Vitali, who’s sold his works through Artomats for six months, confirms the obvious: it’s not about the cash. “This project gives artists the opportunity to get their work into major venues, and it’s cheap for buyers.”
We’re sold. To find a machine near you, check out artomat.org. But don’t wait too long: some machines sell as many as 200 pieces a month, and often run dry around the holidays.
