NEW ORLEANS (press release) – New Orleans-based art and culture startup Cucuron has launched an exclusive, online marketplace featuring a curated selection of unique pieces by New Orleans artists at CucuronShop.com.
“We have created a marketplace to expand economic opportunities for New Orleans artists by curating an online portfolio where travelers and enthusiasts can purchase unique pieces from local artists with ease,” said Cucuron CEO Megan Manning, who owns the business with her husband Michael Manning.
Manning added that it is difficult for artists to engage in the $9.1 billion in visitor spending that the hospitality industry brings to New Orleans, and this new marketplace is an opportunity for local artists to benefit from that tourist spending, while still focusing on their craft.
“As avid travelers, we are passionate about helping explorers discover unique mementos,” said Megan Manning. “We love bringing home pieces of art from the places we visit but know it can be time-consuming to shop and difficult to transport purchases home. We envisioned a model where travelers could easily source and purchase local art and artists could expand their sales.”
Cucuron’s mission is to empower people to invest in unique pieces of art while allowing artists to keep a majority of the sale price of their work, which is different from traditional storefronts where businesses often keep 50 percent of the sale as commission.
With its headquarters in New Orleans, Cucuron launched its New Orleans Collection in November 2024 including works in a variety of mediums including painting, sculpture, photography, and mixed media. While New Orleans is its launch market, Cucuron plans to expand into other destinations in the United States and abroad.
Cucuron’s featured launch artists include Brian Smyre, Carlie Trosclair, Daymon Gardner, Emily Lovejoy, Nikki Nolan, and Sadie Sheldon. Several of their pieces showcase famous landmarks of New Orleans such as In-Between Hour at The Columns and Marigny House (pictured), as well as abstracts of local florals, multimedia music collages, architectural relics, and other expressions.
Additional artists who want to partner with Cucuron can contact info@cucuronshop.com.
