A Sunday afternoon in 2002
Sometimes something big starts very small. For us, that was on a Sunday afternoon in August 2002.
My brother Bart and I were already entrepreneurs, but we devoted a lot of time to a passion that truly touched us: art. Conversations with artists, visits to studios. Collecting work that moved us, that we not only found beautiful but, above all, wanted to give a place in our lives.
A small, vacant location on the Korte Mare in Leiden became our first gallery: Kunsthuis De Mare. Not a tightly thought-out business plan, but more of a kind of ‘business excuse’ to be allowed to spend even more and lasting time on something we felt so drawn to.
What started as something small grew in almost 25 years into De Kunsthuizen as it is today: a gallery with multiple locations and a broad collection of contemporary art, from young emerging talent to internationally established names. With extensive options and arrangements to bring art into the home or work environment: direct purchase, art rental, interest-free art purchase, or art lease. Everything is dedicated to sharing our passion and making art as accessible as possible to a wide audience. And yet, to us, it still feels like that Sunday afternoon in August 2002.
It is and remains special to be able to guide someone through a purchase. We still remember exactly which artwork we sold to the very first client of Kunsthuis De Mare. Just as we will never forget that moment, we are well aware that the same applies in reverse for our clients. Whether it concerns a first purchase or a new work for a beautiful collection that has grown with our clients over the years: every purchase is unique, and it is an honor to be a part of that.
We still experience it as a daily privilege to have been able to turn our passion into our profession. We owe the fact that this has been possible for nearly 25 years to the artists we represent, the clients who place their trust in us, and the team that works with knowledge and dedication to present our collection.
With this blog, we are launching a new series in which we share more about artists, artworks, techniques, collections, and practical questions regarding buying or renting art. Background information and inspiration for anyone exploring art or wishing to deepen their collection.
We warmly invite you to follow this new series and enjoy everything that art can and will continue to bring to us, and hopefully to you as well.
Thank you to everyone who is part of ‘Kunsthuizen’!
