The recent Animal Crossing: New Horizons update contains some exciting features. One of which, is the ability to expand your museum and have an art gallery section! Another feature is the return of special NPC Redd, who is an untrustworthy Kitsune, or fox. Redd is essential in order to add an art gallery wing to your museum. Here’s how to unlock the museum’s art gallery and Jolly Redd’s Treasure Trawler In Animal Crossing: New Horizons. And some tips on how to spot fake artwork too…

About Redd

Redd has been around since the very conception of the franchise, appearing in Animal Forest (Dōbutsu no Mori) back in 2001. Since then, he has appeared in every single mainline and non-mainline game in the franchise. Redd is notorious for selling counterfeit and overpriced items, deceiving players, and having a passive-aggressive attitude. Therefore, his return in New Horizons may be controversial. But love him or hate him, he’s back, essential for the museum expansion, and is just as sketchy as ever.

How To Unlock The Museum Expansion

• You’ll firstly need to make sure you’ve downloaded the 23rd April update, and are now on version 1.2.0.
• After the update, head to the museum and speak with Blathers. He should inform you that he’s contemplating adding an art gallery to the museum. However, you’ll need to bring him a piece of art in order to initiate this expansion.

• If he doesn’t mention anything about an expansion, an issue I was puzzled by, you likely have not yet donated enough specimens to the museum. (Theories suggest that 30 fossils, fish, or bugs need to have been donated, but this is unconfirmed).
• Try making a few more donations and speak to Blathers again. This resolved the issue for me.
• As mentioned, the next step to unlocking the art gallery is locating a piece of art to donate. If you’re wondering where you’re meant to find some art, be patient.

Redd’s Part In Unlocking The Museum’s Art Gallery

• The following day, Isabelle does a heccin concern will worriedly announce that a suspicious character has been spotted roaming the island. This will be Redd. She will warn you of his dodgy dealings, but reassures residents he hasn’t been known to harm others.

• Next, you will need to find the fiendish fox. Once you have, you will be able to purchase a random piece of artwork from him.
• He will initially try and sell it to you for an extorionate price, but both of your dialogue options will make him lower the price.

• As smooth-talking as ever, he explains that he’ll lower the price as you’re basically family. (I hope not…)

• It has been assumed that the first piece of artwork you buy from him will always be genuine (mine was). Once you have obtained a piece of art, take it to Blathers at the museum.

• This will then allow you to expand the museum and have an added art gallery section.

• The museum will be closed the next day for renovations. The day after that, it will be completed and ready to explore. Like with the completion of most projects in the game, you will be able to host a ceremony, celebrating the museum’s expansion. All of your islanders will be in attendance. Although the attentiveness of certain characters is another question…

• The art gallery section of the expanded museum can be seen below.

About ‘Jolly Redd’s Treasure Trawler’

• After the renovations to expand the museum are complete, Redd will again visit your island.
• Redd will possibly have hinted to you in his previous visit that he’s recently obtained a trawler. (you can almost see the dodgy dealing cogs whirring in his brain).

• Sure enough, if you locate him a second time on your island (after the museum has been expanded), he will divulge his intentions.
• He will invite you to his trawler, which is located on the secret beach to the north of your island. Here, you will be able to buy furniture and fake and genuine artwork.

• Whilst the Jolly Redd’s Treasure Trawler is most definitely sketchy, you should go ahead and visit after the invitation anyway.
• Upon entering, he will explain that you can buy as much of the furniture he has on offer as you like. However, you will only be able to buy one piece of artwork from him each time he visits.

• He will visit randomly like other merchants such as Kicks and Leif, but will always be docked at the secret beach.

• The music that plays in his trawler and the flag logo on his ship are reminiscent from my Wild World gameplay. His trawler is also very dimly lit. So the sketchy vibe is as pertinent as ever, and will be uneasily nostalgic for many players.

How To Spot Fake Art

• Just like in previous games, Redd will sell fake art as well as genuine pieces.
• Blathers will not accept fake art, and forged pieces won’t sell for much at Nook’s Cranny either. Therefore be sure that you are buying genuine art when visiting his ‘Jolly Redd’s Treasure Trawler’.

• A handy feature when browsing the art Redd has on offer is the ability to zoom in on the piece. This works much like the camera app on your NookPhone.

• If you’re like me, and have no clue on how to spot fakes, then you’re in luck. A Reddit guide has already been compiled to help people distinguish between fake art and genuine art.

• This Reddit guide will show you the subtle differences between fake and genuine artwork. And with the nifty zoom option, you can be sure to always buy solely legit pieces of art from your so-called ‘cuz’.
• Some pieces of art, such as the Perfect Painting and Warm Painting will always be legitimate. The aforementioned ‘Redd’-it guide also handily informs you of the names of the artwork that will never be forgeries.

I’ll let myself out.