New Member: Artelier
The British Chamber of Commerce in Japan (BCCJ) is delighted to welcome Artelier to our growing membership community. A leading international art consultancy, Artelier delivers bespoke art advisory services, combining curatorial expertise with strategic guidance to help clients create exceptional collections and cultural experiences.
Artelier is a leading international art consultancy, specialising in bespoke art advisory services for a wide range of projects. We provide expert guidance on art investment, manage corporate art collections, and deliver bespoke art consultancy for hotels, yachts, aircraft, and other luxury environments. We also curate exhibitions, public art projects, art fairs, and biennales.
Our approach is precise, customised and highly intentional. We stay ahead of trends by visiting art fairs, exhibitions and galleries worldwide — discovering both established and emerging artistic talent. With offices across the globe, we combine international expertise with local insights to offer the best advisory services. With 20 years of experience across 50 countries, our team of dedicated art consultants and advisors brings professionalism and passion to every project.
We create timeless collections that not only elevate spaces but also maximise investment value and minimise waste.
With 20 years in the industry, our company ethos is built on honesty and trust. We have many long-standing partnerships with clients, artists, gallerists, and suppliers, proudly maintaining a solid track record and reputation.
Local Roots
Our projects all share a philosophy which sits within a sphere where the local and international fuse and continually evolve in surprising and often poetic ways. Knowing a local cultural and historical context - and growing this understanding from a grassroots approach - is always our starting point.
Conscious of our diverse audiences and perspectives of internationalism, Artelier sensitively and intelligently hones the finest nuances of the local to be meaningfully contextualised for a wider global lens.
Worldly Experience
Artelier is a truly global company. With its origins in the heart of the UK, we now have team members in Hong Kong, Dubai, Riyadh and Tokyo.
The sum of our team's rich cultural experiences results in a multi-layered, hyper-perceptive and intriguing company mindset that seeks to transcend frontiers with each project.
International Presence
We have established collaborations and delivered projects worldwide. For each project, we have collaborated with local artists and our client is supported by an in-country local Project Curator and Project Manager.
Introducing Founder & Creative Director, David Knowles
'Having dedicated my career to supporting contemporary artists through gallery leadership, curatorial practice, and international exhibitions, I founded Artelier after leading several Arts Council England-funded initiatives supporting emerging artists and curators. I am recognised for my curatorial expertise through advising on major international exhibitions, including Noor Riyadh, and lecturing at European universities.'
Introducing Japan Associate, Yoshie Irie
'Drawing on extensive experience across the art and cultural sector, including art consulting, public arts and cultural institutions, cultural policy at the Tokyo Metropolitan Government, and work with a world-renowned commercial gallery, I support Artelier's clients in Japan with local expertise and insight.'
Why did you join the BCCJ?
We joined the BCCJ to enhance our company's visibility, strengthen our presence in Japan, and build meaningful relationships with global, forward-looking organisations and professionals within the business community.
What do you most hope to gain from your time as a member?
We look forward to building strong business relationships, exchanging ideas with like-minded professionals and organisations across industries, and creating opportunities for future collaboration. We also hope to gain valuable insights into diverse industries and emerging market trends while learning how best practices and innovative ideas can be adapted to support our business growth.
What makes your organisation unique in your industry or market?
We are one of the few art consulting companies delivering international projects across diverse sectors, including luxury hospitality, corporate environments, private collections, residences, superyachts, and private jets.
What truly sets us apart is our ability to bridge international standards with local cultural authenticity. Our grassroots approach enables us to develop a deep understanding of the cultural and historical context of each location, ensuring that every project reflects its unique identity while meeting the expectations of an international clientele.
What recent achievements or milestones are you most proud of?
Among our recent milestones, we are particularly proud to have delivered art consultancy services for the world's largest superyacht, a pair of privately owned Boeing 787 Dreamliners, internationally recognised hospitality projects including Aman resorts and The St. Regis Venice, and art collections for organisations such as Deutsche Bank.
We have also continued to expand our portfolio across the luxury hospitality, residential, and private sectors.
While these projects represent significant achievements, we are equally proud of the exceptional team and collaborative culture that have made them possible, as well as the meaningful relationships we have built with more than 1,000 artists, clients, and communities around the world, particularly in Japan.
What kind of collaborations or connections are you most interested in building through the BCCJ?
We are particularly interested in connecting with developers, hospitality professionals, architects, interior designers, and other organisations that recognise the value of art in shaping meaningful and memorable spaces. We believe that a single artwork or object can dramatically enhance the character of a space and enrich the experience of those who engage with it. Through the BCCJ, we hope to build meaningful relationships that lead to collaborations integrating art into hospitality, corporate, residential, and other environments, while helping more companies and professionals understand the transformative power of art and the value it can bring to their projects.