
While we’re typically used to vending machines dispensing greasy snacks or MetroCards, NYC’s most creative vending machine Mystry Mart is changing up the game and dispensing art!
The vending machine is actually an art installation in and of itself, and is working to merge local creative talent with wandering art lovers. The machine houses small paintings, photography, jewelry, prints, pins, keychains, figurines, and other one-of-a-kind oddities you won’t find anywhere else all made by local NYC artists.
The caveat–contrary to your typical vending machine where you can see the items right through the glass, the art inside Mystry Mart is all wrapped up, so you won’t know what you’ve received until you unwrap it–hence the “mystry!” So if you’re someone who can never decide on what you want, or you just really love surprises, this is right up your alley.

The idea of Mystry Mart came about from Victoria Orlovskaya and Eugene Bell after they visited Las Vegas’ immersive entertainment and events district Area 15. It was there they saw a vending machine dispensing local art, inspiring them to bring the fun to NYC.
The first machine was painted by NY-native artist and designer CIMAH (Clarity in Mind & Heart) and installed at Bushwick’s Brooklyn Art Cave. Currently, Mystry Mart can be found at the Brooklyn Museum. This machine was brought to life by NYC-based illustrator and cartoonist, Lizzy Itzkowitz, whose whimsical pattern designs transform the ordinary into the extraordinary.
Prices for items can cost as much as $100, though most are $20 or lower and the artists set the price for their work. Bell and Orlovskaya fund the project themselves and split the profits 50/50 with the artists. The machines operate as a consignment business, meaning artists can participate without any upfront costs and retain ownership of their items until they’re sold.

Beyond being a fun way to bring art to more New Yorkers and serve as a mini-gallery, Mystry Mart also supports local artists highlights underrepresented artists in the city’s bustling art scene–over 60 talented local creatives have been featured and they’re continuing to expand across NYC!
Of course we had to go and check it out for ourselves, and we got an adorable paper mache pigeon from artist Ethan Minsker, which reminded us of the colossal pigeon sculpture on the High Line. Find more of Ethan’s work here.
More info about Mystry Mart, including how to sell your own art in the machine, can be found on Mystry Mart’s website.