Avant Arte

Avant Arte operates as a curated marketplace and creative house, aiming to make contemporary art more accessible to a younger generation of collectors. Founded in 2015 by childhood friends Christian Luiten and Curtis Penning, along with Mazdak Sanii who serves as CEO, the company has its headquarters in London, UK. The initial inspiration for the platform stemmed from the founders' interest in hip-hop and the artists referenced in lyrics by figures like Jay-Z and Kanye West, which led them to explore the art world. Lacking a formal arts background, they began their journey by sharing art they discovered online, which evolved from a Tumblr blog into a highly influential Instagram community.

The company's business model bridges the gap between affordable posters and high-priced original artworks by collaborating directly with prominent and emerging contemporary artists to create and sell limited edition pieces. These offerings include high-quality silkscreen prints, sculptures, and digital artworks, produced in partnership with the artists. Revenue is generated from the sale of these editions, which are often heavily oversubscribed and sell out within seconds, a distribution method compared to fashion drops. The company has developed a 'time-limited release' model, where the edition size is determined by the number of orders placed within a specific timeframe, increasing accessibility for its global audience.

Avant Arte serves a global community of collectors, from first-time buyers to established patrons, across more than 100 countries. It has cultivated a digital following of over 3.5 million people, primarily under the age of 35. The platform's strength lies in its collaborative process; it works closely with artists in its own London printmaking studio, Make-Ready, and with a global network of foundries and makers to realize complex projects. This collaborative approach has resulted in works that have been acquired by major international museums for their permanent collections. The company has received backing from several institutional investors, including Bessemer Venture Partners, Prosus, and Exor, through multiple funding rounds.

Keywords: contemporary art, art marketplace, limited edition prints, sculpture editions, art collecting, artist collaborations, creative house, online art gallery, art e-commerce, digital art, emerging artists, contemporary patrons, public art, printmaking, Make-Ready, Christian Luiten, Curtis Penning, Mazdak Sanii, art investment, modern art, art community, accessible art, time-limited editions, art drops