Redd Art Guide: Real and Fake Paintings and Sculptures - Animal Crossing: New Horizons Guide - IGN (2024)

In Animal Crossing: New Horizons, a merchant named Cousin Redd sells various works of art - comprised of paintings and sculptures, but beware because his inventory isn't always the real deal! This guide details exactly what you need to know about how Redd works in ACNH, and how to spot the difference between genuine art and fakes.

Looking for something in particular? Click the links below to jump to...

• How to Buy Works of Art
  • How to Unlock Redd
  • Redd's Treasure Trawler Shop - Art, Furniture, and Forgeries
  • Buying Art from Redd at Harv's Island
• Art Museum Time Travel Cheat
• How to Get Rid of Fake Art
  • Haunted Paintings and Creepy Fake Art
• List of Real Art vs. Fake Art - How to Tell the Difference

How to Buy Works of Art

Redd sells famous works of art from all over the world, but he has a tendency to sell forgeries that only a keen eye can spot. Though you can purchase and display forgeries, Blathers will not take forged artwork to display at the museum, so deducing which are genuine items that Redd sells is important to expanding your museum.

As of the ACNH 2.0 update, there are two locations you can buy art from Redd, but first you need to get Redd to your island!

How to Unlock Redd

In order for Redd to appear on your island, you must first make some headway into building up your town's museum. To do this, you will need to donate a total of 60 bugs, fish, and fossils to the museum (these include the donations made to Tom Nook at the start of your deserted island adventure, and the 15 donations Blathers requires to build a proper museum. This means once the Museum is initially built, you will need 40 more donations!

Once you've hit this milestone, Blathers will tell you on the next day that he has begun taking donations for works of art - although he has no place to display them just yet. Luckily, you're likely to hear an announcement from Isabelle the very next day that, “a suspicious individual has been seen sailing around the nearby islands.” You'll then find Redd walking around your island.

• For an even more detailed guide on how to get Redd to your island, click here!

Redd's Treasure Trawler Shop - Art, Furniture, and Forgeries

Much like previous Animal Crossing games, Redd deals in rare and valuable artworks that he will sell to you each time he visits along with a selection of other furniture items. The furniture items he has available are often color variations that are not commonly found at Nooks Cranny. He’ll also sell four pieces of art — chances are that at least one of those is fake!

Once you've chosen the work of art you want to buy, Redd will lock in your purchase, and refuse to sell the other three artworks (though you are able to buy as much furniture as you want). You won't get the artwork immediately - instead you'll have to wait until he mails it to you the next day (along with a prominent reminder of his no-refunds policy).

Redd can sell multiple real works of art, and all four can also be forgeries, so be wary when making your pick! Once you've chosen a work of art, you cannot purchase another, even on a friends island, for the rest of the day..

Buying Art from Redd at Harv's Island

The 2.0 Update introduced the shops at Harv’s Island. This allows Redd to establish a permanent shop! To learn more about Harv’s Island Shops check out our guide or click here.

To unlock Redd’s shop, speak to the second Lloid on the right who will tell you that you can invite a legitimate art dealer.” When he visits your town, he’ll offer four art pieces (of questionable authenticity) and two items in special color variants. However, on Harv’s Island, Redd’s shop works a little differently.

At Harv’s Island, Redd only offers two pieces of art at a time. You can only buy one per day. As usual, you’ll need to wait until the next day to receive the item in the mail. If you visit him at the Plaza the next day, a new piece will have replaced the one you bought. If you don’t buy anything, you’ll need to wait until the next Monday for him to refresh his stock.

• Check out all the other things Redd can do at Harv's Island by clicking here to view our guide.

Art Museum Time Travel Cheat

If you have no interest in waiting for Redd to reappear and rolling the dice every time he updates his inventory, you can finish your collection quickly with this time travel cheat. Cheat credit toDoug Chinfor contacting us about this exploit.

1. First, you'll need Redd on your island. If Redd is nowhere to be found, Time Travel (change your system clock) one day at a time until you see him.
2. Shop at Redd's once he appears. Don't worry if Redd is selling nothing but fakes; you don't need to buy anything for this cheat to work. Save, exit your game, then close the software completely.
3. Head to System settings on your Switch. Select system, then select Date and Time. Make sure Synchronize Clock via Internet is turned Off. Change the Date and Time to go only one day ahead.
4. Start up Animal Crossing. It’s a new day and Redd is gone. Feel free to use this time to get your art from the mail and even donate it to the museum if you'd like.
5. When you're ready, save, exit, and close the software. Return to the system settings and change your clock back to the previous day to resummon Redd. He'll have new inventory in his shop!
6. Rinse and repeat until your museum collecting is complete.

How to Get Rid of Fake Art

If Redd has managed to trick you, and Blathers informs you that your fake art or fake paintings cannot be submitted to the museum, you'll be stuck with your forgeries - as Redd will have a strict "no refunds policy." Similarly, word apparently gets passed around the island, as Timmy and Tommy will also refuse deal in forgeries, and you'll be unable to sell fake art at Nook's Cranny.

This doesn't mean you still can't display your fake art on your island though - just like any other item, you can display painting and sculptures all over your island or in your own home if you want. If not, you can always use a trash can item to literally throw it away if the memory of getting duped still haunts you!

Haunted Paintings and Creepy Fake Art

On the other hand, if you're interested in some haunting consider keeping the fake art you buy. Players have reported portraits opening their eyes and statues floating once they're interacted with.

(photo above from @Trogdorbad)

List of Real Art vs. Fake Art - How to Tell the Difference

Below is a list of all know Works of Art that Redd sells. Click on the artwork's name to automatically scroll to it on this page. Included is the name of the item in Animal Crossing, the name of the actual artwork it is based on, and any discrepancies you can look for when trying to discern if the item is a forgery. You can also view the slideshow below for fake and real comparisons: