Art Recognition

What Art Recognition does

Art Recognition AG is a Swiss AI company founded in 2019 and headquartered in Adliswil, near Zurich, that develops and operates a proprietary deep-learning system for authenticating artworks. Clients submit photographs of artworks through a secure web platform; the company's Examination Software analyzes visual characteristics, including brushwork, chromatic behavior, compositional structure, object placement, spatial relationships, and stylistic features, comparing them against proprietary models trained on extensive image datasets cross-referenced with official Catalogues Raisonnés. Results are delivered within 7-10 working days as either an AI Short Report (a binary authentic/non-authentic classification, documented as a Certificate of Authenticity or Evaluation of Authenticity) or a Detailed AI Report (including percentage probabilities and methodology visualizations). The technology is also capable of detecting digital forgeries, a capability launched in 2025.

The company monetizes its services through a quote-based, pay-as-you-go professional services model, with fees varying by technical complexity and artist. Its customer base spans art insurance companies (ARTE GenerALI), auction houses (Germann Auctions, the first to sell an AI-authenticated artwork in December 2024), museums and foundations (Karel Appel Foundation, Springfield Museum), art dealers and historians (Walter Feilchenfeldt, Joachim Pissarro), and private collectors, with over 100 institutions and individuals cited as customers. Distribution is digital-first via the web platform, augmented by channel partnerships, while data sourcing relies on partnerships with Scalarchives and Bridgeman Images.

Art Recognition AG operates as an independent, privately held Swiss company with 11-50 employees. Its first disclosed significant external capital was a USD 1 million strategic investment from Luxembourg-based Alpha Star in October 2025, designated for growth and technology expansion. The company is led by CEO and co-founder Dr. Carina Popovici and has published its research in peer-reviewed journals; it also co-developed the Framework for Responsible Use of AI in Art Authentication with the Center for Art Law.

Name

Art Recognition

Legal name

Art Recognition AG

Website

https://art-recognition.com

Company type

Private

Founded year

2019

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

11–50 employees

Short description

Art Recognition AG is a Swiss AI company that uses proprietary deep-learning models to authenticate artworks from digital photographs, serving auction houses, insurers, museums, foundations, and collectors worldwide via a secure web platform.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

AI Art Authentication

NAICS

Software Publishers (5132)

akta.pro primary industry

Image Classification & Tagging (HDAAAEAA)

akta.pro secondary industry

Content Authenticity, Watermarking & Deepfake Detection (HDAAAKAK)

Keywords

• AI art authentication
• Deep learning authentication
• Art forgery detection
• Provenance verification AI
• Computer vision art

Headquarters

HQ city

Adliswil

HQ country

Switzerland

HQ region

Europe

Offices1 record

Markets served

GTM type

B2B

Offering type

Software

Cost components

Technology or R&D, Personnel, Infrastructure, Marketing or Sales, Operations

Revenue model

1. AI Art Authentication Services: Art Recognition charges fees for AI-based artwork authenticity evaluations. Fees vary according to the technical complexities of the artwork and the artist. Certain artists or paintings require more extensive efforts in collecting and curating training images, as well as in analyzing the outcomes. Custom analyses using models trained on specific artistic periods may incur additional costs. Payment is due immediately upon completion of the order, with advance payment required before examination begins.

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion1 record

Distribution channels1 record

Marketing channels5 records

Core offering

Art Recognition provides AI-based artwork authentication via a proprietary deep-learning system that analyzes photographs of artworks uploaded by clients through a secure web platform. The system compares visual characteristics (brushwork, chromatic behavior, compositional structure, object placement, spatial relationships) against models trained on extensive image datasets cross-referenced with Catalogues Raisonnés. Clients receive either an AI Short Report (Certificate of Authenticity or Evaluation of Authenticity) or a Detailed AI Report within 7-10 working days, with probabilities ranging from 0-100%, supported by methodology published in peer-reviewed computer science journals.

Product overview

Art Recognition offers a single unified AI-driven art authentication platform built around its proprietary deep-learning Examination Software. The core offering is the AI Art Authentication System, which clients access by submitting artwork photographs for analysis. Results are delivered as either an AI Short Report (Certificate of Authenticity or Evaluation of Authenticity) or a Detailed AI Report, with the latter providing percentage probabilities and methodology visualization. The company also provides the Framework for Responsible Use of AI in Art Authentication as supplementary guidance. Over 100 institutions, art professionals, and private collectors use the platform globally. Reports are typically delivered within 7-10 working days.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Brands

• Is It? The Art Mystery Podcast: Company podcast exploring art authentication mysteries

Products and services

• AI Short Report Entry-level AI authentication deliverable containing the client's name and address, date, photograph of the artwork, title, and presumed artist name, classifying the work into 'authentic' (60.0%-100.0% probability) or 'non-authentic' (0.0%-40.0% probability). When classified as authentic, it is issued as a Certificate of Authenticity; otherwise as an Evaluation of Authenticity. Designed for art institutions, insurance companies, auction houses, dealers, foundations, and private collectors who need a fast, affordable authenticity signal.
• Detailed AI Report Comprehensive AI authentication deliverable including percentage probability of authenticity/non-authenticity, number of training objects used, summary of main examination points, description of the research method, and visualizations of examination results. Designed for professionals and institutions needing methodological depth for authentication, catalogue raisonné work, or scholarly research.
• Certificate of Authenticity Official document issued when the AI Short Report classifies the artwork as 'authentic' with 60.0%-100.0% probability. Certificate of Authenticity is the AI Short Report classified outcome; from November 2024 it has been accepted at auctions in Switzerland, with Germann Auctions (Zurich) being the first auction house worldwide to sell an artwork based solely on an Art Recognition Certificate of Authenticity in December 2024.
• Framework for Responsible Use of AI in Art Authentication Best-practice guidelines document developed by Art Recognition with the Center for Art Law, setting out principles grounded in transparency, accountability, scientific rigor, and human-AI collaboration. Ensures AI systems enhance rather than replace traditional expertise, requiring clear methodological disclosure, expert involvement, and continuous adaptation. Downloadable as a PDF from Art Recognition's website.

Quantifiable outcome

• Van Gogh Oslo Self-Portrait authenticated with 97% probability, later confirmed by Van Gogh Museum independent research
• +5 more outcomes

Named customers6 records

Segments4 records

Ideal customer profiles4 records

Technology focussed Yes

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

AI capability2 records

Feature4 records

Partnerships

Twelve partnerships are on record, tiered core, strategic and minor.

• Germann AuctionscoreChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorSwiss auction house from Zurich, the first in the world to sell an artwork authenticated solely by AI in December 2024, accepting Art Recognition Certificates of Authenticity at auctions in Switzerland.
• ARTE GeneralicoreChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorArt insurance company offering Art Recognition's AI authentication services to their clientele of collectors via their Art Concierge Platform, helping secure insurance value of collections.
• ScalarchivesstrategicTechnology or IntegrationLeading image provider partnership granting access to vast repository of high-resolution artwork images for training AI models.
• Bridgeman ImagesstrategicTechnology or IntegrationLeading image provider partnership providing access to millions of high-resolution artwork images for AI training database.
• InnosuissestrategicStrategic or Co-development PartnerSwiss innovation agency supporting Art Recognition's technology development and innovation initiatives.
• University of Liverpool (UOL)strategicStrategic or Co-development PartnerAcademic partnership for research and development in AI art authentication technology.
• House of InsurTech (HITS)minorStrategic or Co-development PartnerInsurance technology innovation hub partnership supporting technological integration in the art insurance sector.
• Arttech FoundationminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerFoundation supporting art and technology innovation, providing ecosystem support for Art Recognition.
• Eurostars EurekaminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerEuropean research funding program supporting innovative SME projects in science, technology, and innovation.
• Kunstmarkt Schweiz (VKMS)minorChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorSwiss art market association partnership supporting visibility within Swiss art market ecosystem.
• ArtnomeminorGTM or Marketing PartnerArt authentication platform partnership for industry visibility and thought leadership.
• Center for Art LawstrategicStrategic or Co-development PartnerCollaboration to develop the Framework for Responsible Use of AI in Art Authentication, setting best-practice guidelines grounded in transparency, accountability, scientific rigor, and human-AI collaboration.

Scale indicators5 records

Recent moves6 records

Expansion highlights5 records

Direct peers

• Bradford AI: Bradford AI is an AI-based art authentication provider that, like Art Recognition, scores the authenticity of artworks via proprietary models. It is directly comparable — the two famously disagreed on the de Brécy Tondo Madonna, with Bradford returning 95% 'authentic' versus Art Recognition's 85% non-autograph.
• Hephaestus Analytical: Hephaestus Analytical is cited alongside Art Recognition and Vasarik as one of the leading AI authentication providers serving collectors and auction houses, offering directly comparable AI-based authentication services.
• Vasarik: Vasarik is co-named with Art Recognition in industry coverage as an AI art authentication provider serving global clients. It competes head-to-head on the same use case (AI-based artwork attribution) for collectors, dealers and auction houses.

Broad incumbents

• Sotheby's: Sotheby's is a global incumbent auction house with in-house traditional connoisseurship-based authentication. It overlaps with Art Recognition at the high-value attribution use case but relies on human expertise and is only 'exploring' AI tooling, making it both a potential partner/channel and a potential competitor.
• Christie's: Christie's is a major global auction house with longstanding traditional authentication practices; it is publicly reported to be exploring AI tools. As the second pillar of the duopoly, it is comparable in customer overlap (high-end collectors, foundations, estates) and authentication workflow.
• Heritage Auctions: Heritage Auctions is a large US-headquartered auction house that handles authentication for fine art and is beginning to incorporate data-driven tools. Comparable as a multi-vertical authentication/attribution provider serving collectors and dealers.
• Wildenstein Plattner Institute: The Wildenstein Plattner Institute publishes canonical Catalogues Raisonnés and offers scholarly authentication opinions referenced in major attributions. It is comparable as an authority in art authentication and is explicitly named in Art Recognition's casework where it holds competing attributions.
• Artnet: Artnet is a global art-market data platform with auction databases, analytics and authentication-adjacent services. It overlaps with Art Recognition on providing reference data to collectors and dealers and is a natural broad incumbent comparable for art-market intelligence and authentication.
• MutualArt: MutualArt is an art-market data and authentication-support platform serving collectors, appraisers and insurance professionals. It is comparable as a broad incumbent providing reference data that complements (or competes with) AI-based attribution workflows used by the same customer base.

Emerging players

• Artnome: Artnome is named as a GTM/marketing partner of Art Recognition and operates at the intersection of art, data and AI; it is comparable as an emerging player/ecosystem ally in AI-driven art analysis and authentication thought leadership.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat5 records

Key risks6 records

Key highlights7 records

Customer concentration

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles1 record

Funding overview

Funding rounds3 records

Investors3 records

Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

M&A

Investments

M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

Frequently asked questions about Art Recognition