Online art platform Artsy has seen a 300% increase in sales during the COVID-19 pandemic, and the number of Gen Z + millennials buying art doubled in 2020. Also in 2020, a student at UTC created a website with the mission to make art buying + selling “more accessible for the discovery and success of emerging artists.” That website is Liquid Ego Death.

Liquid Ego Death

UTC student Joseph Donovan is the curator of Liquid Ego Death, described as “An art gallery focused on curating the best of the ‘rising' artists who use the abstract, psychedelic, or surreal styles to induce conversations and convey emotion.”

Every month the website features an artist, and what’s really cool is you can buy the art on clothing, like T-shirts + face masks, and there’s even a pair of leggings, a beach towel, and a bomber jacket. There is, of course, home decor, as well.

If you have a hard time making decisions but want to up your art game, you can sign up for the subscription service and receive a featured artist T-shirt or canvas once a month for $40 or $65 per month, respectively. Both options come with access to any and all videos of artist interviews and time-lapse videos of their artistic process.

This month’s featured artist is Jason Rigsby, whose art is often based off of real dreams + nightmares that he’s experienced — his style could be described as neo gothic, punk, and noir.

Currently, most of the featured artists on the website are local or regional, with one being based in Los Angeles.

Other places to purchase local art

🖼️ Area 61 | 721 Broad St. | This gallery in the Maclellan has the work of over 20 local professional artists + craftspeople from Chattanooga + the surrounding area.

🖼️ H*Art Gallery | 110 E. Main St. | Shop art by local artists who are experiencing homelessness, living with mental + physical disabilities, disabled veterans, women fleeing abusive situations, political refugees, and others.

🖼️ In-Town Gallery | 26A Frazier Ave. | This gallery sales original art from local fine craft artists.

🖼️ Plum Nelly Shop & Gallery | 330 Frazier Ave. Suite 104 | Browse + purchase the work of regional artists specializing in pottery, glassware, art, home + bath products, jewelry, and paper goods..

🖼️ Reflections Gallery | 1635 Rossville Ave. | This Southside shop offers custom framing, local original art, stained glass classes, and fine art + frame restoration.

And when all else fails, there’s always Etsy. We love the local shop MortalXPestle.

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Photos by:

Adrianna Calvo via Pexels
cottonbro via Pexels