Katarzyna Petru
Samsung is developing its concept of a television that transforms into a digital frame when turned off — and it is doing so consistently. The Frame, which is the most popular model of this kind, has just gained another set of digitized artworks, and the database available in the Art Store has already exceeded 4000 works from over 800 artists.
Television that pretends to be a picture — and is getting better at it
The Frame is still a full-fledged television, but its main advantage is the Art Mode and the matte screen coating that imitates the texture of paper or canvas. Competitors are already following this path — TCL Nxtvision and Hisense Canvas TV — however, matte displays have their downsides: poorer contrast, black levels, and color saturation in films.
Collaborations with Top Institutions
Samsung has been developing Art Store for years, which is a library of digital works available via subscription ($5/month or €5/month). The company collaborates with the largest museums and cultural institutions — from the Louvre to MoMA — and this year Art Store has also become available on regular Samsung models, though in a limited version and without the full functionality of The Frame.
New Collections: Liberty, Tate, and Art Basel
Liberty — August Supplement - This summer, 20 new designs from the British brand Liberty were added — from the fairy-tale motifs of Enchanted Wood to the colorful Jungle Trip. Among the new arrivals are Artemis, Marina’s Tea Garden, Fantasy Land, and My Grown Up Star.
Tate Collection — Classics and Icons - In October, the Art Store was enriched with 15 works from Tate, including:
Whaam! — Roy Lichtenstein
The Snail — Henri Matisse
Yellow Islands — Jackson Pollock
Echo Lake and Ski Jacket — Peter Doig
Art Basel Miami Beach 2025 — Contemporary in Digital Edition - This week, works from 24 contemporary creators associated with this year's edition of Art Basel are joining. Among them:
Energía de la visión de Ayahuasca (2022) — Olinda Silvano
Victoria Park (2025) — The Pérez Bros
Apenas Cinco Semanas Da Kissama… (2019) — George Nelson Preston
40 Hearts (2018) — Jennifer Rubell
Luna Ilena (2024) — Aycoobo
4 thousand works and counting
Samsung boasts that the Art Store's offering has grown to over 4000 items. Among the partners are the world's most important museums: Louvre, Art Institute of Chicago, MoMA, Thyssen-Bornemisza, and many others. The Frame remains not only a television but also one of the most interesting ways to bring art into the home — without the need to collect physical works.
