LOOT DROP ART CLUB

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loot drop art club

a new way to sell art

In 2020, my best friend and I co-founded Loot Drop Art Club, a creative vending company based in Western North Carolina. We specialize in giving old vending machines new life by retrofitting and transforming them into functional works of art.

Once the machines are given a fresh paint job (designed with the venue in mind),

we fill them with a curated selection of toys, games, prints, stickers, and all sorts of unique curiosities.

making art accessible

Loot Drop is an artist-owned and operated business, founded with the goal of bringing art into everyday spaces. As of 2024, we’ve placed 18 vending machines across four cities in Western North Carolina. You can typically find our machines in bars, breweries, coffee shops, and restaurants. Our mission is simple: we want to put art where people are already spending their time, making it more accessible and integrated into daily life.

Between 30% and 50% of the inventory in each of our machines is made by local artists. To make it easy, we mark these items with a bright pink star sticker so you can easily spot what's local!

pictured above: a loot box located at black cat burrito

GESAMTKUNSTWERK

As the lead artist at our company, my favorite part of the process is designing vending machines that seamlessly integrate with the space. I try to apply the philosophy of Gesamtkunstwerk — a “total work of art” - where every element, from the machine itself to the curated selection inside, contributes to a unified aesthetic vision.

The idea behind Gesamtkunstwerk is that the individual components of a particular work are carefully crafted to interact with and enhance each other. The total experience is meant to be greater than the sum of its parts, with each element playing a vital role. I apply this same concept to creative vending. Each machine is thoughtfully painted to blend into its environment, creating the illusion that it was always meant to be there. The objects inside —handcrafted art pieces sourced from local artists— add another layer of meaning.

When everything comes together just right, it’s more than just a functional vending machine; it becomes part of the larger aesthetic narrative. It enhances the space and invites people to engage with art in a new, meaningful way.

want a machine?

If you're interested in a Loot Box of your own, or you just want to learn more, head over to our website.

I would love to hear from you!

but what actually do you do for loot drop?

MY PROCESS

One of the most frequent questions I get when discussing my company is how we go about painting and retrofitting our vending machines. While retrofitting is a bit too complex to cover in detail here, I can share that we only work with models that are designed for retrofitting. We swap out the motherboard, install new credit card readers, add LED lighting, and sometimes replace the plexiglass—though the specifics can vary depending on the machine.

As for the painting process, that's a bit more consistent. I start by applying a base coat of MTN94 spray paint — industry standard for a reason. It usually takes between eight and twelve cans to cover the entire machine. If I’m aiming for a particularly vibrant finish, I’ll lay down a white base coat first to really make the color pop.

I typically design the artwork digitally and project it onto the side of the machine using a digital projector. A regular 2B pencil doesn’t show up well on metal, so I prefer using charcoal pencils or paint markers to outline my design. From there, I color block with acrylic paints. This part takes forever. A standard vending machine is about 3' x 3' x 6', so when I paint one, it’s like painting three 3' x 6' murals. I think most people underestimate how long it actually takes. I've spent up to two weeks painting a single vending machine before, but on average, I can get it done in a week.

These days, I’m fond of Posca pens for finer detailing. If the design leans more graphic or illustrative, I’ll often use the Poscas to outline and refine the lines. I do see myself making more sculptural vending machines moving forward. My absolute favorite vending machine is the one I designed for fizz Ed, which looks like a giant cocktail. I'd love to make more machines that break up the usual rectangular form of a vending machine.