Animal Crossing: New Horizons — How to unlock Jolly Redd's Treasure Trawler and the museum art gallery

Animal Crossing: New Horizons Redd in front of the Treasure Trawler
Animal Crossing: New Horizons Redd in front of the Treasure Trawler (Image credit: iMore)

With the release of update 1.2.0, Animal Crossing: New Horizons players can now unlock an art gallery for the museum as well as make it so that a dubious art seller named Redd visits your island. However, there are some steps you'll need to complete before this fox shows up on your island, and the art gallery opens. Here's everything you need to do, along with tips for spotting fakes.

  1. Talk to Blathers. As usual, he's planted in the museum foyer. He'll tell you that he's been thinking of expanding the museum to include an art gallery.

Animal Crossing: New Horizons Player talking to Blathers the owl at the museum (Image credit: iMore)
  1. The following day when you turn your game on, Isabelle will tell you that there are reports of a "suspicious visitor." Look around on your island until you spot Redd. Talk to him, and he'll tell you about his art selling business. You'll even get the chance to purchase some artwork from him. He'll initially give you an insanely expensive price. Turn down this first offer, and then he'll come back with a reasonable amount. Now make sure to purchase the artwork he's selling.

Animal Crossing: New Horizons Player talking with Redd (Image credit: iMore)
  1. Run to the museum and offer the artwork you've just purchased to Blathers. After seeing the artwork, he'll state that his dream of expanding the museum to an art gallery can finally begin.

Animal Crossing player talking to Blathers (Image credit: iMore)
  1. The following day, Isabelle announces that the museum will be closed for a day for remodeling.

Animal Crossing: New Horizons Isabelle giving her daily announcement (Image credit: iMore)
  1. The next day, the museum will open with the new art gallery appearing up the stairs behind Blathers. Run around the island and locate Redd. He'll tell you that he's acquired a boat where you can purchase art and furniture. Tell him that you want to check it out.

Animal Crossing player talking to Redd (Image credit: iMore)
  1. He'll run off back to his boat. Now you need to run to the "secret beach" at the back of your island. You'll find his boat docked back there. Go ahead and board his trawler.

Animal Crossing player entering Redd's boat (Image credit: iMore)
  1. He sells both furniture and artwork. While you can purchase as many pieces of furniture as you want, you can only purchase one piece of art from his boat.

Animal Crossing player inside Redd's boat (Image credit: iMore)
  1. Make sure to examine the artwork as some of them are forgeries. Here's how to spot a fake. Blathers doesn't accept fake artwork, and they don't sell well at Nook's Cranny either. When you're satisfied, make your purchase. Redd will ship the artwork to you the following day.

Animal Crossing upclose look at Redd's wares (Image credit: iMore)
  1. Check your mailbox the following day to pick up the art you've purchased.

Animal Crossing: New Horizons Player standing in front of mailbox (Image credit: iMore)
  1. Now you can either give the artwork to Blathers or decorate your home with it. Just remember that if it is a fake, Blathers won't take it from you. You can learn more about the artwork you've donated by interacting with it at the museum.

Animal Crossing player in the art gallery standing in front of a painting (Image credit: iMore)

How to tell if Redd is selling a fake

Animal Crossing New Leaf Redd (Image credit: Nintendo)

Each of the pieces that Redd sells on his boat is based on real-life classic works of art. Some of his goods are genuine, while others are forgeries. It's easy enough to spot a fake as long as you know what to look for.

It really just comes down to a game of spot the difference. If you look up the original artwork and compare it to the one Redd is selling, you might notice a difference. Maybe the hand of the figure depicted in the portrait is in a different position. Maybe the colors are a little off. If you think a piece of art looks different from the real-life one, it's probably a fake and should be avoided. In past games, players could get insurance from an otter named Lyle, which specifically covered art forgeries. At this time it's unclear whether or not this mechanic will return in New Horizons.

Rebecca Spear
Gaming Editor

Gaming aficionado Rebecca Spear is iMore's dedicated gaming editor with a focus on Nintendo Switch and iOS gaming. You’ll never catch her without her Switch or her iPad Air handy. If you’ve got a question about Pokémon, The Legend of Zelda, or just about any other Nintendo series check out her guides to help you out. Rebecca has written thousands of articles in the last six years including hundreds of extensive gaming guides, previews, and reviews for both Switch and Apple Arcade. She also loves checking out new gaming accessories like iPhone controllers and has her ear to the ground when it comes to covering the next big trend. 

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