No, Cerealart is not an emporium for art created out of cereal. Despite the prints of Hank Willis Thomas and Ryan Alexiev’s “Breakfast of Champions,” which recreates a portrait of President Obama out of the breakfast treats, the store focuses primarily on selling multiples of 3D artwork.
The company’s name is a play on Warhol’s interpretation of “serial art,” and it refers to the multiples in which Cerealart specializes. The polished-white showroom in Old City allows visitors to focus all of their attention on the pieces, most of which are limited-run re-creations of contemporary 3D art. The company, which gets most of its business from wholesale and online sales, allows artists to submit their work to be considered for inclusion in the store and reproduction. The process of creating these multiples allows featured artists to gain wider exposure, while maintaining the high quality of their work, as production facilities are hand-selected based on specific designs.
Be advised that these collectibles don’t come cheap. You can avoid triple digits by opting for smaller pieces, like Keith Haring’s ceramic Subway Tile Coaster set ($60) or Marcel Dzama’s Monsters of Winnipeg Folklore action figure set ($35), but larger items come with an expectedly bigger ticket. Kirsten Hassenfeld’s white resin diamond shaped jewelry box ($400) is visually arresting, but the Velvet Underground sound chip truly sets it apart. You may not have as much practical use for David Shrigley’s Brass Tooth ($1,200), but the piece is so beautiful that it at least deserves extensive ogling.
Unfortunately, Cerealart will soon close up shop in Old City to focus exclusively on its online and wholesale businesses. While the company sells its products in stores around the world, including the shop at the ICA on campus, seeing the magnificent multiples in one place is certainly worth the trek to Old City, even if you haven’t saved up enough to actually buy anything.
Cerealart
149 N 3rd St. (215) 627–5060
Category: 3D visual artists’ multiples Price Range: $$$$ Bottom Line: Invest in unusual, expensive modern multiples
