Fabiola Lara is exploring a new creative outlet for her work – using old vending machines to deliver her artwork in surprising ways.
One local artist is reimagining the way vending machines work – by having one that dispenses her art.
Fabiola Lara is a Chilean-American artist who has worked on a number of personal and commercial art projects for 10 years. She said she began to consider the concept of an art vending machine after seeing this trend gain popularity through other creators.
“I had seen a few people, I think on YouTube, who had a vending machine they brought to pop-ups,” she said. “And then I saw somebody else doing it on Tik Tok. I know Anastasia Inciardi already is popular on Instagram, so I just had been seeing this around, and I said to myself, ‘If I managed to come across one for an affordable price, I’ll give it a shot. It sounds fun.’ ”
A vending machine dispensing art is not a new concept – in fact, they have existed since the 1990s.
The Art-o-mat – created by artist Clark Whittington in 1997 – transformed an old cigarette vending machine into an “art” vending machine. Customers would insert money, and instead of cigarettes, they received different kinds of art. Whittington’s original Art-o-mat sold Polaroid black-and-white photographs mounted on blocks for $1 each.
While the machine was initially a temporary installation, the owner of a local cafe where it resided asked if it could stay permanently. Whittington’s machines were then stocked with various kinds of local art, including jewelry, mini paintings, stamps and postcards. According to the Art-o-mat website, these vending machines aim to offer “exposure and promotional support” for artists and to encourage art consumption by all people.
Art-o-mat’s exist around the country – and the world – including one in the Philadelphia Museum of Art and another inside the Aloft Philadelphia Downtown Hotel.
