Art for Good: Needs For Sale

Sometimes all we need to help someone less fortunate is a bit of magical thinking. Like: “if I paint a picture of a warm bed a homeless person will get one!” Sound crazy? Well, it’s exactly what NYC-based artist couple Christine and Justin Gignac are doing through a project they call Needs For Sale. And it works.

Needs For Sale founders Christine & Justin Gignac

Needs For Sale: A Place to Play ($250) & Education for Girls ($500)

Needs For Sale: A Pig ($120) & A Can of Peas ($250)

Started in November 2007, Needs For Sale was envisioned as a way to inspire others to help charities with the incentive of art. Each painting represents a need that we would like to fill. From toys for kids at Christmas, to food for the hungry, to building supplies for people who have lost their homes. 100% of each sale is donated to a specified charity, so if you are looking for art that tells a story, you found it. It’s a simple way to make a difference.

Needs For Sale: A Front Door ($150) & A Wig ($100)

Needs For Sale: Research for a Cure ($500) & Phone Calls for Our Troops ($250)

The Needs For Sale project grew out of another of the Gignacs’ projects, called Wants For Sale. This one was based on the couples own “wants” and the price of each painting was based on the cost of each actual item, which ranged from a slice of pepperoni pizza for $3 (sold) to one month’s rent for $1056,17 (sold) to a Vegas vacation series (some still available) to A Little Shopping in SoHo for $2500 (still available). When a painting is sold the pair buys the item, photographs it and posts it on their website.

Needs For Sale: A Barbie ($250) & A Nerf Football ($100)

Needs For Sale: Mr. Potato Head ($250) & A Cow ($500)

Many of the paintings of Needs For Sale have sold, but still available are: A Good Meal (through a donation to Food Bank for New York City) and A New Toy (through a donation to New York Cares). I’m sure someone on your Christmas shopping list would appreciate such a thoughtful gift.

Needs For Sale: A Spiral Ham ($100) & A Toilet ($100)

Needs For Sale: A Kitchen Sink ($100) & A Fish ($100)