Great news everyone! Blathers has finally got permission to expand the museum and add an entire wing just for stunning art displays. And would you look at that! A new visitor has also arrived called Red, and they’re wanting to sell art to you. Wait a minute, does something seem off with that piece? To help you avoid getting caught out, we’ll explain exactly what the deal is with Fake Art in Animal Crossing: New Horizons.
Animal Crossing: New Horizons Fake Art guide
© Nintendo
Yeah, it turns out new salesperson Redd isn’t the most scrupulous of dealers. While they’re one of the only ways to obtain art pieces in Animal Crossing: New Horizons, they’ll also regularly stock their ship with fake art, charging extortionate prices for cheap knockoffs. Whether Redd makes these fakes themself or just has no clue when they’re buying them, we don’t know, but we suspect the former.
So what’s the deal with Fake Art? These knock off paintings and sculptures will appear on Redd’s ship just like regular art pieces, and will cost the same as the official one. The big catch with Fake Art is that Blathers won’t accept them in his museum. Only the legit stuff can be displayed there. However, there’s nothing stopping you from showing off your fake art in your home or around town. Heck, we reckon most of your friends won’t even be able to tell the difference! So Don’t feel afraid to buy fake art if it’s what you’re after.
How to spot Fake Art
The trick Redd is trying to pull is that each Fake Art piece looks very similar to one of the real artworks you can obtain. However, there are always one or two silly changes that stand out when you look a bit closer.
The Mona Lisa fake, for example, has eyebrows tilted down so it appears she’s smirking at you, while the warrior statue fake is holding a shovel. The Motherly statue fake art has a tongue hanging out. To help you identify if the artwork is fake, you can always look up the real deal online (all of Animal Crossing: New Horizons’s artworks are takes on famous sculptures or paintings) and compare, or try and look closely yourself
Fake Art list for Animal Crossing: New Horizons
© Nintendo
Below you'll find a list of all the Fake Art pieces in Animal Crossing: New Horizons, with images and descriptions of how to spot the fake art. We'll be adding images for all the Fake Art pieces as we find them, so be sure to check back again soon to see more. Bear with us!
Fake Art paintings
Academic Painting
How to spot the fake: There is a circular stain in the top right corner of the sheet.
Amazing Painting
© Nintendo
How to spot the fake: The central figure dresssed in black with a red sash is missing his hat.
Basic Painting
How to spot the fake: The boy has a full fringe (bangs) covering his forehead.
Calm Painting
This painting is always genuine.
Common Painting
This painting is always genuine.
Detailed Painting
How to spot the fake: The japanese text on the left side of the image is missing.
Dynamic Painting
This painting is always genuine.
Famous Painting
How to spot the fake: Her eyebrows are tilted down and inwards, giving a comical expression.
Flowery Painting
This painting is always genuine.
Glowing Painting
This painting is always genuine.
Graceful Painting
© Nintendo
How to spot the fake: The figure is much larger, taking up much more than half the image, or is looking the wrong way.
Jolly Painting
© Nintendo
How to spot the fake: There is no flower sticking out from the figure's chest.
Moody Painting
This painting is always genuine.
Moving Painting
How to spot the fake: There are no trees in the top right corner.
Mysterious Painting
This painting is always genuine.
Nice Painting
This painting is always genuine.
Perfect Painting
This painting is always genuine.
Proper Painting
This painting is always genuine.
Quaint Painting
How to spot the fake: the woman is pouring a lot more milk. There should only be a small trickle from the jug.
Scary Painting
How to spot the fake: The eyebrows point up on the inside, and down on the outside.
Scenic Painting
How to spot the fake: There is only one hunter on the lower left side, and only a few dogs.
Serene Painting
© Nintendo
How to spot the fake: The ermine the lady is holding has several colors of fur. The Real one is purely white.
Sinking Painting
This painting is always genuine.
Solemn Painting
How to spot the fake: A tough one to spot. The man in the background of the image (in the doorway) has his arm angled upwards at 45 degrees, as if saying hello.
Twinkling Painting
This painting is always genuine.
Warm Painting
This painting is always genuine.
Wild Painting Left Half
How to spot the fake: The oni figure should be white. In the fake art it will be green.
Wild Painting Right Half
How to spot the fake: The oni figure should be green. In the fake art it will be white.
Worthy Painting
This painting is always genuine.
Fake Art Statues
Ancient Statue
How to spot the fake: A pair of antennas are stuck up on either side of the statue's head.
Beautiful Statue
How to spot the fake: The statue is wearing a necklace.
Familiar Statue
This statue is always genuine.
Gallant Statue
How to spot the fake: The statue is carrying a book under its right arm.
Great Statue
This statue is always genuine.
Informative Statue
How to spot the fake: The entire statue is blue. Quite obvious.
Motherly Statue
© Nintendo
How to spot the fake: The mother wolf has her tongue lolling out the side of her mouth.
Mystic Statue
© Nintendo
How to spot the fake: The statue is wearing an earring on its right ear.
Robust Statue
How to spot the fake: There is a band, possibly a watch, around the wrist of the hand holding the disc.
Rock-Head Statue
How to spot the fake: The statue is smiling, with the edges of the mouth pointed up.
Tremendous Statue
How to spot the fake: The statue has a lid. The real statue has no lid at all.
Valiant Statue
How to spot the fake: A hard one to spot, the fake is a mirror image of the real. The fake statue has the broken, shorter wing on its right side (the left from your viewpoint), and has its left leg stepping forward.
Warrior Statue
How to spot the fake: The statue is holding a shovel.
For more Animal Crossing: New Horizons guides, check out the following:
- All Shrub types and colors in Animal Crossing: New Horizons
- Animal Crossing: New Horizons colorful and outdoorsy tools guide
- All upcoming events in Animal Crossing: New Horizons
By reading this guide, hopefully you now understand what Fake Art is in Animal Crossing: New Horizons and have a basic idea of how to spot it. Head over to our game hub by clicking here to find even more guides for the game.
