A better marketplace for the things people love.

In the French tradition, the Atelier is a master's studio, a place of becoming and creation. The word also carries a connotation of privacy and solitude. The Atelier is entered only by invitation, when an artisan believes they've created something worthy of attention and commerce. Or, perhaps, when their interlocutor sees an opportunity to create profit.

My parents gave me the great gift of growing up in a household that cherished the arts. We didn't have much but, living in New York, there were still ample opportunities to visit galleries, displays, and museums. My mother took me on the days when she was not working. Those visits taught me patience, and contemplation, and the ability to use an artist's view of the world as a way to learn more about my own.

She herself was a talented painter. Two of her pieces display in my home to this day, and will as long as I live. When I asked why she's never made painting her vocation, despite having the obvious gift and love for it, she answered "Nobody in New York would buy these, and I can't reach people outside the city."

As an adult, I entered the world of technology, and learned a great deal about how to use software and hardware for the purpose of bringing access to that which was previously shut. Today, we're proud to announce a way to bring art to all, and to ensure that artists can make a living from their craft by serving a global audience.

Let me tell you how the current world of art functions. Artists, even established sellers, spend much of their time trying to gain attention. They do this by going to festivals, networking, and flogging their work in the misunderstood world of social media. This can generate a small track record of sales, although usually at a lower price than they should be able to command. Those who persist through this gauntlet for many years will attract the attention of agents and galleries. The middlemen take their works on exclusive consignment, display the pieces on walls, forget to talk about them with patrons and, sometimes, rarely, sell the work for real money. At a standard 50% commission.

The artist pours their soul into the work, hands it to an agent who is limited by geography and incentivised by a handful of big buyers, and some time later receives 50% of their sale. From which they then have to pay rent, buy materials, market themselves, and put food on the table. Is it any wonder that nearly all artists have other jobs, family wealth, or go bankrupt?

Let's also consider the collectors, of which I am one. They want to improve the lives of their family, support the artistic community, and to invest in the oldest and most appreciative asset class. They go to galleries and speak to buyers, not understanding that they are being shown only locally produced pieces, and those for which the agent receives the largest commission and exclusive representation rights.

This system works for nobody, except for the middle men. It's time for something better.

Atelier creates elegant, invisible technology to learn tastes and to make new connections. Sales agents often tell artists to underprice, in order to move works off walls quickly and free up space for their favorites. We use a global database of sales to explicitly tell artists when they're underpriced, and how to balance between maximizing dollars and speed to sales. Every work is shown to taste-matched buyers with validated proof of funds, worldwide. Your audience becomes global overnight, and sales happen while you make art, sleep, and enjoy time with your family.

Most important; Our commission is a flat, transparent 20%, and we'll never ask for an exclusive listing or representation agreement. If another channel gets you a faster, larger sale, then we celebrate with you.

For collectors, we take the time to learn what's inspired you, then send our technology to find the right piece to complete your collection. If it's not on the market, we help approach the owner and formulate compelling offers. Art is enriching, educational, wonderful for families, and a tax efficient investment in an uncertain world. You should be able to access it through honest, incentive-aligned brokers.

We maintain partnerships with banks, vaults, logistics partners, and provenance experts. When you're ready to make a purchase or sale, including long-term storage, we handle the escrow, movement of your piece, verification, and final signoff of the transaction.

Taste is fundamentally human. Every recommendation coming from the platform is reviewed by an expert before being sent to our users. When there is disagreement, the human overrules. Our mission is to become the world's curator, and technology is a means to the end, never the replacement.

Welcome to the Atelier. For the first time, our doors are open wide, and all are welcome.