Tired of staring at blank walls in your home or office? Art prints add personality and make your space look finished and feel comfortable. However, the high cost of art prohibits many people from decorating.
But art doesn’t have to be expensive! High quality prints of free public domain art images allow anyone to customize a lackluster space and make it their own.
You can find public domain images on websites such as:
NASA’s space image collection
World-famous museums
National park photo galleries
Library digital archives
Image hosting and sharing websites
Continue reading to learn what public domain art is, how to print fine art on a budget, and 10 websites with a wide variety of free-to-use images.
Public Domain Art
Art is considered “public domain” when it is no longer, or never was, protected by copyright laws. This can happen for several reasons: the art was never copyrighted, the copyright expired, or the copyright owner waived their rights to the art.
Public domain art is free to use and can be downloaded, printed, and displayed without licenses, fees, or legal restrictions.
Fine Art on a Budget
There are many benefits to using public domain art to decorate your home or office.
Save money: These images are free to download, just pay for printing.
Character: So many corporate environments look the same. Distinguish your space with art that highlights your interests and values.
Aesthetics: Empty walls make a space look unfinished. Art provides a color palette, serves as a focal point, and gives a pop of color to a dull room.
Evoke emotion: Art can inspire a wide range of emotions, from motivation and comfort, to empowerment, intrigue, and so much more.
Elevate a public domain image to fine art status by printing on a unique, high-quality substrate such as metal, canvas, or watercolor paper.
Who doesn’t love looking up at a clear night sky full of stars? The National Aeronautics and Space Administration (NASA) has a breathtaking collection of royalty free space images that will transport you to the far reaches of space.
This ethereal image of the Tarantula Nebula depicts one of the largest star forming regions near our galaxy. Colorful high-contrast images of space printed on ChromaLuxe metal panels are sure to stand out and be a focal point in your room.
Bring the museum to your home or office with the open access library from the National Gallery of Art. The NGA in Washington D.C. has compiled a collection of images from their permanent collection that are in the public domain.
“Three Pears” by French artist Paul Cézanne is a public domain painting that would add a nice pop of green to a kitchen or dining room. Try printing on watercolor paper which is ideal for fine art reproductions.
Stunning photos of national park landscapes are available for free download on the NPS website. No matter if you’re searching for serene lakes, bold mountains, or powerful waterfalls, the NPS gallery has a photo to evoke your desired emotion.
Marvel at the natural architecture and bold colors of Arches National Park. This is a great way to open up small spaces and add brightness to dark or dull rooms.
The Metropolitan Museum (MET) in New York City, a cultural hub with over 5,000 years of art representation, also provides free access to public domain images in the museum’s art collection.
This watercolor painting by American artist Winslow Homer – “Fishing Boats, Key West” – is appropriate for either the home or corporate environment with its sunny, serene atmosphere and agreeable blue palate.
This website has an impressive gallery of famous artwork, like Vincent VanGoh’s “Starry Night,” as well as lesser known, beautiful works.
Japanese artist Katsushika Hokusai’s “The Great Wave off Kanagawa” is a well-known piece exuding power and energy in shades of blue. The contrast of white and blue colors would look great as a brushed aluminum Dibond print.
This online journal and non-profit project is an obscure collection of art described by the curators as a “cabinet of curiosities.” These compelling images will challenge viewers and generate conversation.
Pictured on the right is an image from the PDR’s collection “The Geometric Landscapes of Lorenz Stoer (1567).” The juxtaposition of geometry and scrollwork inspired craftsmen in northern Europe who made furniture in the style of Stoer’s drawings.
Flickr is an image hosting and sharing website with a “creative commons” section featuring public domain images from individual users who have waived their rights to photos they have posted. Flickr also partners with notable institutions and museums, including the Library of Congress to provide vintage images and create public domain galleries.
Pixnio’s website has clearly defined image categories such as landscapes, plants, architecture, etc. to make browsing easy. You are sure to find exactly what you’re looking for.
An exciting travel photo like this dramatic image of the Eiffel Tower inspires motivation.
This website has a large selection of public domain images with new images added daily. The search features are helpful for specifying art based on theme, color, and even image orientation.
Plants, like this succulent, are a great way to add geometric patterns, texture, and color to a home or corporate office. Print on canvas for added texture and dimension.
User-friendly categories and galleries as well as quick download links make this site easy to use. Browse the popular search gallery to see what is trending.
This architectural image by Alex Wong exudes warmth from the sunset hues reflected between two buildings.
ArtisanHD offers a variety of printing options so that you can find something that works for your space as well as five-star customer service and support. Contact us today for a free consultation. support@artisanhd.com
ArtisanHD Fine Art Printing Services
Turn public domain images into elegant, expensive-looking art for your space with ArtisanHD printing services. Free to use art can be customized to suit your style by choosing from a wide variety of substrates, custom-cut-out-shapes, XL prints, and cluster image printing among other custom services.
Whether you’re printing a single image or placing a high-volume order, ArtisanHD’s 5-step process ensures the images are printed to your exact specifications and shipped safely. Upload your copyright free art and start designing your prints today!
ArtisanHD creates fine art printing, backed by top-notch printing equipment and dedicated, experienced artisans. Canvas, acrylic, brushed metal, and much more.
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