LUMAS inspires the press
LUMAS PRESS INFORMATION
The Concept
When searching for affordable, authentic photography, digital art, and contemporary design, one encounters a large gap in the market. Galleries typically sell single-edition, large-format works in editions of three to five for four- or five-figure prices to experienced collectors, institutions, and museums. LUMAS offers a reasonably priced alternative. LUMAS has created a new space for art, where original art can easily be discovered, experienced, and acquired.
LUMAS offers new collectors and all art lovers a diverse selection of works by some 160 established artists and promising newcomers. More than 1.400 works are available as original photographs in editions of 75 to 150, signed by the artist. These editions allow LUMAS to offer affordable prices between €100 and €800 on average. LUMAS’s goal is to make top-class, museum-quality art photographs affordable for everyone – even in large formats.
Thanks to a close, ongoing cooperation among the artists, a curatorial committee, and its outstanding production partners, LUMAS enjoys a unique position worldwide in the field of editions. LUMAS is simultaneously a publisher and a reputable dealer. By keeping all production in house, LUMAS is able to maintain a high level of artistic and technical standards, offer exclusive works, and provide expert customer advice.
The LUMAS team – a panel of experienced photography experts – has created a diverse portfolio of contemporary artistic perspectives, which they continue to update and expand. The artists are chosen selectively, accounting for both promising newcomers from the world’s major academies and established artists alike. The selected pieces exemplify the artistic concept and work of their creators and are produced as originals in cooperation with leading professional labs and manufacturers.
28 LUMAS Galleries in 8 countries worldwide
After the opening of the first LUMAS gallery in Berlin – at the heart of the famous Hackescher Markt in 2004 – more locations were soon added. LUMAS has now grown to 28 galleries all over the world (see details for more information). Thanks to the new interior design concept, ‘The Collector’s Home’, visitors have the feeling of being in the private rooms of an art collector rather than a gallery. The works attractively displayed in the living room, kitchen and library show how a favourite piece would look on the customer’s own wall. This allows the LUMAS portfolio to be displayed as a constantly changing private collection. With spaces ranging from 300 to 800 square meters, each location has its own individual appeal. We also hold events such as book presentations and talks by experts and artists in each location to complete the cultural programme and ensure a comprehensive insight into contemporary art.
The LUMAS Magazine
LUMAS Magazine comes out twice per year, and provides information about new additions to the LUMAS portfolio. It also includes reports and artist portraits to give an exciting insight into the contemporary art world, for seasoned collectors and beginners alike. Interviews with experts and important people within the scene complete our coverage of current art events. Customers, and anyone else interested in art, receive the magazine direct by post. The package also contains prestige art, culture, style and business magazines, which have in the past included: art, Monopol, brandeins, Spiegel, Page, Die Zeit, Frankfurter Allgemeine Sonntagszeitung, Geo, Architectural Digest, Elle Decoration, VOGUE und Capital. LUMAS Magazine is also available in English and French.
The LUMAS Website
At www.lumas.com one can take a closer look at the entire LUMAS portfolio. Virtual exhibitions, as well as numerous images and texts on the artists, written by renowned authors, offer detailed information and comprehensive overviews. The website also offers in-depth explanations of framing and mounting – on which, in consultation with the artists, we offer suggestions. All works from our portfolio can be purchased online.
FACTS & FIGURES
Mission:
Created by art collectors and brought to life by 160 renowned artists and promising talents from major academies, LUMAS is passionate about offering original and inspiring art as affordable editions. LUMAS makes photography accessible to a new and growing audience. Focused on new collectors, LUMAS represents perspectives by both established and emerging photographic, digital, and design artists.
Target Group:
The “New Collector” signifies a wide client base:
- art enthusiasts and first-time buyers
- frequent visitors of museums, not yet familiar with the gallery community
- aged 30 to 50
- above average income and education
Incorporated:
1999
Start of Project:
2003, opening of the first gallery in 2004
Artists represented:
160
Works published:
1,410
Works available by:
Nobuyoshi Araki, David Armstrong, José Manuel Ballester, Jane Bown, Charles Cohen, Michel Comte, David Downton, Andreas Feininger, Thomas Florschuetz, GRAFT, Nan Goldin, Heinrich Heidersberger, Werner Herzog, Wolfgang Joop, Robert Lebeck, Alex Maclean, Man Ray, Matteo Thun, Farin Urlaub, Marcel Wanders and many other international artists.
LUMAS locations:
28 generous LUMAS exhibition spaces present the latest works from the LUMAS portfolio. LUMAS Editions Galleries are located among others in Berlin, Cologne, Düsseldorf, Frankfurt, Hamburg, Munich, Amsterdam, Brussels, London, New York, Paris, Vienna and Zurich.
FOUNDERS
Stefanie Harig
From 1989 to 1995 Stefanie Harig studied art history and communications with a focus on public relations in Saarbrücken and Berlin. In 1995, she was self-employed with the agency Die Brücke Public Relations GmbH. Her clients included several federal ministries, Mercedes-Benz, McKinsey & Company, and Deutsche Bahn. In 1999, she sold her shares in the agency to SMYLE GmbH and worked as an interior designer and art consultant in Berlin and New York. In 2003 she co-founded LUMAS, the leading publisher of affordable art editions. Today LUMAS operates 28 wholly owned galleries in eight countries. In 2007 LUMAS launched WhiteWall, an online platform primarily oriented to non-professional and semi-professional photographers.
Marc Alexander Ullrich
In 1986, at the age of 18, Marc Ullrich founded Rainbow Arts, a developer of entertainment software and two years later he acquired shares in Softgold (entertainment software distribution). Rainbow Arts quickly became the leader in its field in Germany. He sold both companies to institutional investors in 1991. From 1992 to 1994 Marc Ullrich held an executive position at ESCOM AG (second largest PC retailer in Europe at the time), where he was responsible for product management, purchasing, and strategic business development. From 1994 to 1997 he was active as a strategy consultant in Germany, UK, and the US for IT-clients including 1&1/United Internet, IBM, and Compaq. In 1997 he founded Germany’s leading web-hosting provider STRATO. Since 2000 he has again been active as a strategy consultant for 1&1/United Internet, heading their UK relaunch und US launch. In 2003 he co-founded LUMAS, the leading publisher of affordable art editions. Today LUMAS operates 28 wholly owned galleries in eight countries. In 2007 LUMAS launched WhiteWall, an online platform primarily oriented to non-professional and semi-professional photographers.
