UNC students to sell their art to the community

Student artists will transform the third floor of Hanes Art Center into a sales floor Friday.

Students and community members will have the opportunity to view, explore and purchase student artwork unique enough to serve as holiday gifts or dorm decor.

Three student-artists participating in the 8th Annual UNC Art Department Student Print + Art Sale — Kerry O’Shea, Shelby Bass and Karishma Lalchandani — say they believe the greatest benefit to this event is creating a connection between artists, UNC and the greater community of Chapel Hill.

O’Shea, a senior studio art major, has never sold her artwork before, but said she is hopeful that the art show will help her to gain artistic exposure.

“The print show is another good way to sort of get involved with the community,” she said. “People will see the work and want to buy it.”

O’Shea said she hopes to sell 30 to 40 pieces of artwork that she made in classes taken throughout her time spent at UNC. She said the majority of the artwork that she will be selling is print work, so if one piece is purchased, there will still be other copies of that same piece for other interested shoppers to buy.

“It is definitely a bridge between the community and the students,” she said.

Bass, a senior studio art major and president of the Undergraduate Art Association, entered UNC on the pre-medical track, but changed her major to studio art in order to pursue her passions.

As president of the UAA — the organization responsible for running the event annually — Bass spends much of her time both creating artwork and promoting the sales of student art.

“Not only do I like to make art, I like to give other people the chance to show their art, get their art out there,” she said.

Bass said she believes that selling one’s own art is rewarding and creates accessibility for upcoming student-artists.

“People have made hundreds of dollars in sales in the past years,” she said. “The art world focuses on making art and making good art, but this is sort of a crash course in how to sell it.”

Lalchandani, a senior psychology major, is experienced in art sales. She owns her own design business called Karishma’s Art where she currently sells apparel and merchandise with henna-style prints on them.

Lalchandani believes that the time of year will have an impact on the event’s turnout.

“Since it’s exam time, I’m not expecting too many people to come out,” she said. “But it’s the holiday season, so people will want to get prints.”

Lalchandani said the Print + Art Sale will create a sense of confidence and validation for student artists.

“I think it gives you a lot of encouragement to know that people do want to see your work,” she said.

“Even if they don’t buy it, you will probably get some compliments on it.”

arts@dailytarheel.com