Wedding registry for original art

Should marriage really be celebrated with pots, pans and food processors? Aiming to offer a less dreary alternative, New York’s nAscent Art has launched a registry service. The service, dubbed ArtWish, gives couples the chance to create a registry from art works showcased by the company. nAscent Art will then email the couple’s friends and relatives explaining how they can purchase works from the list outright, or make a partial contribution as a gift. Customers have work from over fifty emerging New York artists to choose from, with pieces ranging from silk paintings to steel sculptures. Says nAscent co-founder, James Wallace: “We really bring art back from the stratosphere to prices within the reach of ordinary people. ArtWish is just one more way to reach that goal.” Recently married themselves, co-founders James and Jennifer Wallace wondered why art wasn’t available on their own wedding registry. This formed the inspiration for the service. However, it’s not necessarily limited to couples. With the holiday season on its way, some families might be spared the high-street frenzy by an invitation to chip in for a piece of art online. Spotter: Cecilia Biemann