Your Ultimate Redd Art Guide for Animal Crossing: New Horizons (ACNH)

Jolly Redd, the sly art dealer, is a returning character in Animal Crossing: New Horizons, bringing a touch of culture and intrigue to your island. His visits offer players the exciting opportunity to acquire art for the museum, enriching their island paradise with masterpieces. However, not everything Redd sells is genuine! This guide will provide you with everything you need to navigate Redd’s wares, distinguish real art from fakes, and complete your museum’s art collection.

Redd sets up shop on his boat, offering four unique art pieces alongside furniture. Just like in previous Animal Crossing games, some of these artworks are authentic and can be donated to Blathers at the museum, while others are forgeries, destined to remain decorative pieces in your home. Choosing wisely is crucial, as you can only purchase one piece of art from Redd per visit. Be aware that Redd might sometimes stock only fake pieces, or you might get lucky and find multiple genuine artworks in his selection. There are a total of 43 art pieces to discover and donate to the museum, making art collecting a rewarding long-term goal in Animal Crossing: New Horizons.

Once you make a purchase from Redd, your chosen artwork will be delivered to your mailbox the following day, adding to the anticipation of expanding your art gallery.

Finding Jolly Redd on Your Island

Before Redd makes his grand entrance, you need to pave the way for his appreciation of the arts on your island. This involves nurturing Blathers’ cultural interests. To initiate Redd’s appearances, you must first donate at least 60 items to the museum, which can include fish, bugs, or fossils. Once Blathers has received a substantial number of donations, he will mention the idea of opening an art exhibit, signaling the impending arrival of art to your island.

The day after Blathers expresses his artistic aspirations, Isabelle will include a special announcement during her morning briefing, warning residents about “shady art dealers” – a clear nod to Redd’s arrival. Following this announcement, Redd will begin to appear randomly on your island, ready to tempt you with his collection.

Image: Nintendo EPD/Nintendo via Polygon

Your first encounter with Redd will involve a slightly pushy sales tactic. He will initially offer you a painting at an exorbitant price of 498,000 Bells. However, upon declining this outrageous offer, he will dramatically slash the price to a more reasonable 4,980 Bells. This first piece he sells you will always be genuine, ensuring you get started on your art collection with an authentic piece.

Donating this initial artwork to Blathers will prompt him to discuss opening an art exhibit within the museum. The museum will then close for renovations the following day to prepare for the new wing. Two days later, the upgraded museum, complete with an art exhibit, will reopen, and Redd will start visiting your island irregularly, offering new pieces for sale.

Redd’s boat docks at the secret beach located on the northern shore of your island. This secluded spot is typically at the back of your island, often requiring a ladder to access if you haven’t terraformed the area. Keep an eye on your island map for the anchor icon indicating Redd’s boat is visiting.

Redd’s boat appearances are not on a fixed schedule; he arrives randomly, similar to other special merchants like Kicks and Flick. It’s not definitively known if there are specific prerequisites beyond upgrading Resident Services for Redd to appear regularly, but having the museum established and upgraded is essential.

In addition to his random island visits, Redd can also set up a permanent stall at Harv’s Island Plaza for a 100,000 Bell investment. When Redd is stationed at Harv’s Island, he will display two art pieces daily, and both can be either genuine or fake. Just like on his boat, you are limited to purchasing only one piece of art per day, regardless of where you buy it from. The art pieces at Harv’s Island refresh daily after a purchase, offering new selections. If you don’t buy anything, the stock will refresh every Monday.

What to Do With Art from Redd

The primary purpose of acquiring genuine art from Redd is to donate it to the museum, contributing to Blathers’ esteemed art collection. Once donated, these pieces will be displayed in the museum’s art wing for all visitors to admire.

Beyond museum donations, art pieces, whether real or fake, can also serve as unique furniture items to decorate your home or island. Paintings can adorn your walls, while statues can be placed both indoors and outdoors, adding an artistic flair to your island landscape.

Fake artworks, however, cannot be donated to the museum, and Timmy and Tommy at Nook’s Cranny will refuse to purchase them. If you decide you no longer want a fake piece, you’ll need to dispose of it using a trash can furniture item. Alternatively, you can embrace the deception and display fake art in your home as a conversation starter or to playfully mislead your less discerning visitors.

Spotting Real vs. Fake Art from Redd: A Detailed Guide

All of Redd’s artworks are inspired by real-world masterpieces, ranging from famous paintings to iconic sculptures. The challenge lies in distinguishing the genuine articles from Redd’s cunning forgeries. Each fake artwork has a noticeable difference compared to its authentic counterpart, requiring a keen eye for detail.

Redd has significantly refined his forgery techniques in Animal Crossing: New Horizons, making it more challenging to differentiate between real and fake art compared to previous games like Animal Crossing: New Leaf. The discrepancies are subtler and require careful inspection.

The following sections provide detailed descriptions and visual aids to help you identify the differences between real and fake versions of each painting and statue Redd offers. Remember to always examine art pieces closely before making a purchase to ensure you are acquiring a genuine artwork for your museum donation.

Important Note: While this guide is based on in-game textures and observations, there have been occasional reports of variations in fake artworks. Always cross-reference and carefully inspect each piece to avoid purchasing a forgery. This guide will be continuously updated with new information as it becomes available.