Sweaters get outgrown and gadgets get replaced. A signed work of art is one gift that keeps its place, usually right where the family gathers. Tom Binder Fine Arts has been helping collectors find the right piece since 1986, and every holiday season we see the same thing: the best art gifts aren't really about decor. They're about a place. The city where you met, the park you walked every Sunday, the beach you keep promising to go back to.
Here are a few of our favorite ways to give a place this year.
For the New Yorker at heart
Alexander Chen paints in a style he calls "hyper-realism," recording every person, window, stoplight and advertisement in front of him. His biography tells of the first snowfall he ever saw. He was 40, standing in the middle of Central Park, and New York has been one of his great subjects ever since.
Washington Square Park (2015) is a true holiday showpiece. It's a giclée on canvas with hand embellishment, hand-signed by the artist, and it's also offered as a signed and numbered edition on paper. For a smaller gift that still has a big presence, try Central Park Bow Bridge. This signed and numbered seriolithograph is $195 and comes with a Certificate of Authenticity.
For the one who needs a deep breath
Some people on your list don't want more noise. They want quiet. Elaine Binder's soft, loose landscapes are made for them. Beyond the Beach is a calm, wide stretch of warm sand, green dune grass and open sky. It's a limited edition from the Estate of Elaine Binder. Hang it in a bedroom or a home office and the whole room seems to slow down.
For the collector who has everything
If they already own a few prints, give them something truly rare. Alexander Chen's Vintage European Etching Collection (2008) is a series of embossed zinc plate etchings. Each one is a museum proof from an edition of just 10. Every proof is hand-signed in pencil with Chen's ink chop mark and carries a hand remarque by the artist at the bottom center. Big Ben is a wonderful choice for the anglophile in your life, and the black-and-white line work looks beautiful in a simple frame with a generous mat.
Gift with confidence
Buying art for someone else can feel like a gamble. That's why every piece on Artman.net comes with the Artman Value Program. It includes a 100% refund within 30 days if the artwork isn't right, plus a lifetime product warranty. And because our works come directly from the publisher, you know exactly what you're giving.
A few tips for gift-givers:
- Order early. Domestic orders are typically processed within 3–5 business days, and we don't process orders on weekends or holidays. Give yourself a cushion before the big day.
- Plan the framing. Many of our works ship unframed. A local framer can finish the piece in time, or you can tuck a "let's frame it together" card in with the print.
- Include the story. Write a line about why you chose this place. It turns a beautiful print into a keepsake.
Find the perfect piece
Browse the Alexander Chen collection and Elaine Binder's artworks. You can also call us at 800-332-4278 and we'll help you choose. Happy holidays from all of us at Tom Binder Fine Arts and Artman.net.