LOS ANGELES — On March 12, The Artist Tree, a chain of combination cannabis dispensaries and art galleries, will participate in an international treasure hunt in celebration of International Art & Found Day.
For one day only, customers visiting any The Artist Tree location in Southern California may stumble upon a piece of original art tucked somewhere in the store. Finders keepers: The customer may keep the art.
The experience won’t stop at the storefront doors, though. The Artist Tree team also place original works “in the wild” within surrounding neighborhoods — on benches and near their storefronts — offering creative surprises to the local passersby. Neighbors should keep an eye out for brown-paper-wrapped packages marked with a colorful “Free Art” sticker.
The Artist Tree expects to collect and distribute more than 100 original works from local artists, reinforcing its mission to make art approachable, interactive, and woven into everyday life.
“Art should be approachable, unexpected, and part of everyday life, not tucked away behind a velvet rope,” said The Artist Tree co-founder Lauren Fontein. “Art & Found Day brings creativity into the streets, giving people the chance to discover local artists in a way that feels personal and meaningful. It’s about building community through surprise, delight, and shared moments of inspiration. That’s the kind of movement we’re proud to support.”
“When I created Art & Found Day, it was about more than hiding artwork,” said Courtney Senior, Founder of International Art & Found Day. “It was about removing barriers. I wanted original art in the hands of people who might never walk into a gallery. I wanted artists to feel confident sharing their work boldly and freely. And I wanted communities to experience creativity not as something exclusive, but as something joyful, generous, and shared.”
Many of the artists contributing to Art & Found Day already have work displayed inside The Artist Tree’s galleries. Guests who have admired a piece on the wall may find themselves discovering a take-home creation by the same artist. Whether encountered in-store or in the neighborhood, each piece is intended to spark joy, surprise, and connection.
In addition to The Artist Tree’s artists, in-house art curator Katie Brightside, the creative force behind the brand’s gallery programming for 10 of the 12 locations, will donate 10 original pieces of her own. Team member Alfonso Juarez, a customer experience specialist and artist, also will contribute an original painting.
The Artist Tree will share clues on Instagram, tagging @artandfoundday and participating artists to help guide the hunt.
