The Drawing Room is selling art made by kids. Here's how it all started in the store.
NEW BEDFORD – The Emerging Artists Art Gallery has already sold 40 pieces of art at The Drawing Room, and they are all made by artists under the age of 10.
“I believe that every child is an artist and our emerging artists gallery is a true testament to that. Started just over a year ago, this little corner of our store has continued to thrive, with young talents bringing in their works,” said Anthi Frangiadis, owner of the Drawing Room.
The emerging artists gallery at the store started in July 2022. Children under 10 years old can bring in their artwork to be sold for $5, with $3 going to the artist and $2 being contributed to the art museum.
It started with Margo Connelly Masson, an artist who works at the store, when her son Roger's artwork was featured at the counter. The artwork was sold for $5 and became the beginning of the emerging artists gallery.
Roger Masson, 6, said his first drawing of Easter eggs sold for $3. “I was so excited,” he said, adding he likes to design abstract pieces made out of lines.
“The ones I normally do with the lines are the best sellers.”
More: 'Seems like it's going to be a winner': Locals excited for 'The Holdovers' on Nov. 10
When asked about what he does with the money he earns from his art, Masson said, “I get color pencils and a new shirt.”
But for him, it’s not just about the materials, it’s about the feeling. He said creating art makes him feel calm and also energetic. One of his favorite memories is making art with his mom, who is his biggest inspiration.
He said it’s also about the joy and passion that comes with sharing his art with others as well as recruiting his friends and cousins to create art to also be in the gallery.
Young artists under 10 are encouraged to submit work
And as for why he loves being at The Drawing Room, Masson said “I love going to Anthi’s because they have a lot of drinks, and I’m always thirsty.”
Now the gallery, named in Roger’s honor features a plaque encouraging young SouthCoast artists to submit. Frangiadis said they prefer a standard size of 8.5 by 11 inches.
Frangiadis said he’s become the "poster child" for the emerging artists gallery and gained popularity among customers. One of the pieces brought in by Masson was not for sale, and had an “NFS” (not for sale) label on it. Frangiadis said a couple from New York saw this and couldn’t stop laughing about how cute it was and decided to give $5 as a donation.
Violet Katz, 6, also sells her framed polaroid photos of different sights around the New Bedford area. She was happy when someone bought her first picture.
“Because I love art so much, it makes me happy when doing it,” she said.
Her father Adam Katz, owner of Play in New Bedford, said when she went to have her first set of photos installed in the gallery, she told him she couldn’t believe she was in a “real art gallery and I'm only a kid.”
Frangiadis said her customers are drawn to the concept of showcasing and selling children's artwork, and some also appreciate the unique titles given to the pieces by the young artists such as “why cats are better than people” or “I’m crab boy.”
"We didn't want the gallery to go into the sunset, and it hasn't. People have been buying the artwork and they love the idea,” Frangiadis said.
“We are so happy to continue to have this in the store.”
Standard-Times staff writer Seth Chitwood can be reached at schitwood@s-t.com. Follow him on twitter:@ChitwoodReports.Support local journalism by purchasing a digital or print subscription to The Standard-Times today.
This article originally appeared on Standard-Times: The Drawing Room introduces Emerging Artists Gallery in shop
