You’ve probably seen the videos. Someone is sprinting through the aisles of a suburban TJ Maxx, their camera shaking as they zoom in on a gold-framed masterpiece tucked behind a stack of "Live Laugh Love" signs. It looks like a Van Gogh. It feels like a Van Gogh. But then you see the price tag: $24.99.
The internet has a weird obsession with these things. TikTok is currently flooded with "hauls" featuring the TJ Maxx Van Gogh painting, and it’s sparked a genuine hunt that rivals the California Gold Rush, just with more scented candles. People are driving to five different Marshalls and HomeGoods locations on a Tuesday morning just to find a specific textured print of Sunflowers or Irises.
But here’s the thing—most people are getting the "why" and "what" of these paintings totally wrong. It’s not just a cheap poster in a frame.
The Mystery of the Textured Canvas
Honestly, the reason these pieces go viral isn't just because they’re "cheap art." It’s the texture. Usually, when you buy a budget art print, it’s flat. It’s a piece of paper or a smooth canvas that looks like a photocopy.
The TJ Maxx Van Gogh painting series uses something called impasto-style printing. Vincent van Gogh was famous for laying his paint on so thick that it practically jumped off the canvas. These retail versions use a specialized clear gel or a heavy-bodied ink that mimics those actual brushstrokes. When the light hits them, you see shadows and ridges. It looks surprisingly high-end.
Is it a real painting? No. But it isn't a flat poster either. It’s a "dupe" that actually understands why people like the original.
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Why the hunt is actually a nightmare
If you think you can just hop onto the TJ Maxx website and order one, I’ve got bad news for you. These specific museum-style prints—the ones with the heavy, faux-gilded frames that look like they were swiped from the Louvre—are almost exclusively in-store finds.
The inventory system at TJX (the parent company of TJ Maxx, Marshalls, and HomeGoods) is notoriously chaotic. They don’t always get the same shipments at every store. One location in Ohio might have six copies of Starry Night, while the one three miles away hasn't seen a Van Gogh in months. This "treasure hunt" aspect is exactly what drives the TikTok frenzy. It creates a "buy it now or lose it forever" mentality.
Who Is Making These Things Anyway?
You won't find a "Van Gogh" brand on the back. Usually, the labels on these viral paintings point to manufacturers like Venice Beach Collections, Stupell Industries, or Colleen Karis Designs.
These companies specialize in licensing famous works and turning them into "dimensional" art for mass retail. They aren't hand-painted by an artist in a studio; they’re mass-produced in factories, often using UV-printing technology that can build up height on the canvas.
- Venice Beach Collections: Often the source of the larger, ornate gold-framed pieces.
- Stupell: More likely to produce the smaller, $16.99 versions.
- HomeGoods Exclusives: Sometimes you'll find "hand-embellished" versions where a factory worker actually adds a few real brushstrokes of clear acrylic over the print to make it feel more authentic.
Is It Even Legal to Sell These?
People sometimes ask how a random store can sell "Van Gogh" art.
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Basically, it’s all about the public domain. Vincent van Gogh died in 1890. Under international copyright law, his work entered the public domain decades ago. This means anyone—from a high-end museum to a budget home decor brand—can legally reproduce his paintings without paying a cent in royalties to his estate.
The "value" in the TJ Maxx version isn't the image itself; it's the frame and the texture. You’re paying for the physical materials, not the "rights" to the art.
The Garage Sale "Fake" vs. The Retail "Print"
There’s a bit of confusion in the news lately because of a separate story involving a $50 garage sale Van Gogh.
A few years ago, a painting titled Alamar was bought for pennies at a garage sale in Minnetonka. Unlike the TJ Maxx prints, this one was actually an old oil painting. Recently, art researchers have been trying to authenticate it as a "lost" Van Gogh worth upwards of $15 million.
Don't get these confused. The TJ Maxx Van Gogh painting you see on your FYP is a modern reproduction. You aren't going to find a multi-million dollar masterpiece hidden behind a "Bless This Mess" sign. Well, never say never, but the odds are basically zero.
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How to Actually Score One Without Losing Your Mind
If you’re genuinely trying to track one of these down, stop checking the "Art" aisle first.
I’ve found that the best stuff is often sitting on the endcaps near the furniture or even leaning against the floor in the "Office" section. Employees often get overwhelmed with shipments and just tuck the larger frames wherever they fit.
- Go on "New Shipment" days: Ask an associate when they get their trucks. It's usually Tuesday or Thursday mornings.
- Check the back of the frame: If the "Compare At" price is significantly higher than the TJ Maxx price, it’s usually a higher-quality print from a boutique supplier that just ended up in the discount bin.
- Don't ignore the "as-is" section: These heavy frames get dinged up easily. A tiny scratch on a gold frame can drop the price from $25 to $12, and you can fix it with a $5 gold leaf pen.
What to Do Next
If you’re obsessed with the look but can’t find the specific Van Gogh you want, you’ve got options.
First, try searching for the brand Venice Beach Collections on resale sites like Poshmark or Mercari. People flip these all the time. Just be prepared to pay a markup.
Second, look at the Monet or Renoir prints in the same style. Often, the same company makes an entire "Impressionist" line. If you find a Monet Water Lilies with that same thick texture, it’s going to look just as good on your wall as a Van Gogh.
Lastly, if you're feeling crafty, buy a cheap flat print from a craft store and a tube of clear gloss impasto gel. You can literally paint over the print yourself to create those 3D brushstrokes. It’s way more satisfying than driving to six different stores on a rainy Tuesday.