Empowering Regional Artists

The Art Bin was born out of the realization that independent local artists and interested communities need help finding each other. Artists don’t have access to the online prints market thanks to financial and technological barriers. We aim to change that while bringing high quality archival art prints to our customers that want to support local artists. You have a lot of choices when it comes to shopping for art. The big box stores might be a little cheaper but supporting local artists sends your money to real people and real families. When you shop at The Art Bin your purchase makes a difference.

Our Mission is Three-fold

1) Provide high quality fine art reproduction prints at prices that are fair to the customers and fair to the artists.

2) Remove financial and technological barriers for our artists, giving them an online marketplace through which to sell prints of their work to those that know and love our region.

3) Be profitable and fair. It is important to us that our artists take home 75% of print sales profits. The Art Bin was built for artists and art lovers and we strive for a sustainable business with fair prices.

Room with Appalachian Mountain sunrise view Fine Art on the Wall

Sunrise view of the Great Smokey Mountains.

Why Appalachia?

We could have chosen to create just another generic online art prints marketplace. But we chose to build a platform based on artists that live in the Appalachian Region. Why?

1) The Appalachian Region consists of 423 counties in 13 states, stretching from southern New York to northern Mississippi. Our mountains contain beautiful backcountry, countless vistas, quaint towns, urban centers, and many other treasures. It also falls substantially behind the country average on per capita income, higher education, poverty, and many other key economic factors. The challenges are real. But so is the art.

2) Appalachian artists have amazing work to offer but individual websites are burdensome and most online art markets are bloated. Appalachians need an online mountaintop. The Art Bin aims to be that beacon.

3) It’s awesome. The Appalachians are one of the oldest mountain ranges on earth. We have one of the world’s most well known hiking trails (The Appalachian Trail), the nation’s most visited national park (Great Smokey Mountains National Park), the nation’s most visited national parkway (Blue Ridge Parkway), are recognized as a biodiversity hotspot, and so much more. If you’ve been here, you’ve witnessed its allure. If not, come check it out…you won’t be disappointed.

4) It’s home. We love it and while we may be better off trying to make and sell our art elsewhere, our creative process relies on this place. We’re not just another online art marketplace. We’re a community, joined together, bringing you high quality art. We hope you find something you love. And we thank you.

Map of eastern United States showing the Appalachian Region which includes 423 counties in 13 states. — The Appalachian Region includes 423 counties in 13 states.

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