What Masterpiece International does

Masterpiece International is a U.S.-headquartered specialty freight forwarder founded in 1989 in New York City, focused on the international and domestic logistics of high-value fine art and related specialty cargo. The company operates across air, ocean (FCL, LCL, non-containerized, charter), and ground modalities, with custom brokerage handled by 25+ licensed brokers, ATA Carnet expertise, CTPAT membership, and specialized handling for USDA, FDA, Fish & Wildlife, and CITES-regulated cultural artifacts. Customer segments are vertically organized: Museums, Galleries, Private Clients, Art Fairs, Trade Shows, Entertainment, and Marine/Yacht, each served through dedicated divisions with specialized account staff.

The firm's underlying technology and product stack centers on three proprietary assets: (1) ATLAS by Masterpiece, a customer experience portal providing real-time supply chain visibility, dynamic dashboards, and secure stakeholder collaboration; (2) artWISE, a shared project management and shipment-monitoring platform with customizable checkpoints; and (3) TURTLE Crates, a registered, museum-grade packaging system positioned as the company's flagship physical product. Adjacent services include Masterpiece Security Group (MSG) for licensed tarmac supervision and courier escort, and mission-critical time-definite delivery. The company operates 17 U.S. offices covering every major port and airport, including a 75,000 sq. ft. Chicago Gateway at O'Hare opened in 2023, with a marine division active in Newport and West Palm Beach.

Commercially, Masterpiece runs a consultative, quote-based enterprise sales model priced per shipment by complexity, value, urgency, and handling requirements, with multi-year contracts referenced for gallery services. Distribution is exclusively direct (no third-party resellers), executed through senior account directors and regional sales staff across Greater Northwest, Greater Southeast, Mid-Atlantic, and LATAM-corridor markets. The company's ownership history reflects a private-equity roll-up dynamic: founded independently in 1989, it became part of Magnate Worldwide (Littlejohn & Co. became majority shareholder in January 2022, later rebranded to Imperative Logistics Group in May 2024), and in June 2026 was divested to Maxwell Street Capital Partners in partnership with Boxart to form the independent Masterpiece Group. Strategic M&A (Domek Logistics 2018, Hybrid International Forwarding 2021, Cargo Logistics Group 2023) has been the primary geographic and capability expansion lever.

Name

Masterpiece International

Legal name

Masterpiece International

Website

https://masterpieceintl.com

Company type

Private

Founded year

1989

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

251–500 employees

Short description

Masterpiece International is a 1989-founded, New York-headquartered specialty freight forwarder providing international and domestic air, ocean, and ground logistics, customs brokerage, security, and technology-enabled visibility for museums, galleries, art fairs, private collectors, trade shows, entertainment, and marine/yacht clients across 17 U.S. offices.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Fine Art Logistics Services

akta.pro primary industry

Fine Art & Exhibition Cargo Forwarding (TLACAJAH)

akta.pro secondary industries

Fine Art Handling & Transport (HSAKAEAB), Sculpture & Oversized Fragile Item Moving (HSAKAEAG)

Keywords

• Fine art logistics
• International freight forwarding
• Customs brokerage services
• Museum shipping
• Art transportation

Headquarters

HQ city

New York

HQ country

United States

HQ region

North America

Offices10 records

Markets served

GTM type

B2B

Offering type

Services

Cost components

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

Revenue model

1. International Freight Forwarding: International logistics services including air freight, ocean freight (FCL and LCL), and ground transportation for fine arts and specialty cargo. Services include full and partial plane/vessel charter for mission-critical shipments.
2. Customs Brokerage Services: Full suite of customs brokerage services including U.S. import consulting, tariff assessments, free trade zone entries, in-bond documentation, duty drawback, ATA Carnet clearances, and government agency compliance (USDA, FDA, Fish & Wildlife, CITES).
3. Security and Supervision Services: Licensed security services including cargo handling, stationary and mobile security, follow cars, supervision of handling and palletizing, tarmac escort, and courier assistance through Masterpiece Security Group (MSG).
4. Mission-Critical Services: Time-definite delivery, 24/7 visibility, white-glove service, and tailored solutions for urgent and critical shipments requiring specialized handling.

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion1 record

Distribution channels2 records

Marketing channels6 records

Core offering

Masterpiece International is a specialized fine art and specialty cargo logistics provider that coordinates, packs, and transports high-value artworks for museums, galleries, private collectors, art fairs, trade shows, entertainment productions, and marine/yacht clients. Services span air, ocean, and ground freight, customs brokerage, mission-critical time-definite delivery, and licensed security supervision, supported by proprietary platforms ATLAS (customer portal) and artWISE (shipment tracking) and the TURTLE Crates museum-grade packaging system.

Product overview

Masterpiece International operates as a comprehensive fine art logistics provider offering a platform-plus-services architecture centered on its core fine art logistics expertise. The company provides international and domestic transportation services across air, ocean, and ground modalities, complemented by proprietary technology platforms including ATLAS (customer experience portal) and artWISE (shipment tracking platform). The TURTLE® Crates system represents its innovative packaging solution for museum-grade artwork protection. Services include customs brokerage through 25+ licensed brokers, mission-critical time-sensitive delivery, and Masterpiece Security Group for tarmac supervision. Specialized divisions cover galleries, museums, private collectors, art fairs, entertainment, marine/yacht, and trade shows. The company was founded in 1989 and operates as a subsidiary that was divested to Maxwell Street Capital Partners and Boxart in 2026.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Brands

• ATLAS: Best-in-class customer portal providing modern, intuitive, user-friendly experience for supply chain management.
• artWISE
• TURTLE Crates

Products and services

• Fine Art Logistics for Museums
• TURTLE Crates
• ATLAS by Masterpiece
• artWISE
• Air Services
• Ocean Services
• LCL Advantage Service
• Mission-Critical Services
• Customs Brokerage
• Masterpiece Security Group (MSG)
• Gallery Services Division
• Art Fairs Division
• Entertainment Division
• Marine/Yacht Division

Quantifiable outcome

• LCL Advantage service delivers 3-5 days faster transit time than typical LCL services on average
• +1 more outcomes

Segments7 records

Ideal customer profiles7 records

Technology focussed Yes

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Feature3 records

Partnerships

Three partnerships are on record, tiered flagship and minor.

• BoxartflagshipStrategic or Co-development Partner · 25 June 2026Boxart, a fine art crating, installation, storage, and delivery services company, partnered with Maxwell Street Capital and Masterpiece to form Masterpiece Group. The partnership creates one of the industry's most comprehensive fine art logistics platforms combining international transportation with local services. Boxart provides additional capital for strategic expansion and positions the combined entity as an independent fine art logistics specialist.
• ARTIMminorOthersARTIM is a fine art logistics professional group mentioned in the company's Anti-Corruption Compliance Policy as the professional group to which specialist intermediaries in fine art transactions often belong. Represents industry membership rather than formal partnership.
• CTPAT (Customs-Trade Partnership Against Terrorism)minorOthersMasterpiece International is a proud member of CTPAT, a U.S. Customs and Border Protection program that partners with private industry to strengthen international supply chain security.

Scale indicators3 records

Recent moves10 records

Expansion highlights6 records

Direct peers

• Momart: UK-based specialist in fine art logistics including storage, transport, and installation for museums, galleries, auction houses, and private collectors. Directly comparable in specialized handling capability and customer vertical mix.
• Gander & White: Long-established U.S.-based fine art logistics specialist offering international shipping, installation, storage, and conservation logistics for galleries, museums, auction houses, and private collectors. Closely comparable service model, customer base, and specialty positioning.
• Atelier 4: Specialty fine art logistics company offering crating, shipping, installation, and storage services for galleries, museums, and private collectors. Comparable in size and specialty focus, with overlapping service offerings in crating and installation.
• Cadogan Tate: Internationally recognized fine art logistics company providing packing, shipping, installation, and storage services globally for galleries, museums, collectors, and auction houses. Operates a directly comparable service portfolio with offices in Europe, the U.S., and Asia.
• Hasenkamp: European-headquartered fine art and high-value cargo logistics specialist serving museums, galleries, and private collectors worldwide. Directly comparable in mission-critical handling, customs expertise, and global agent-based service model.
• Crown Fine Art: A direct competitor in international fine art logistics with services spanning packing, crating, transportation, and installation for galleries, collectors, museums, and auction houses. Headquartered in the U.S. with global reach, directly comparable customer mix and service portfolio.
• Sevenstar Yacht Transport: Specialist in worldwide yacht and boat transportation services offering sea, road, and air freight for vessels — directly comparable to Masterpiece Marine Division's international and domestic yacht shipping capabilities.
• Peters & May: Global specialist in yacht and boat shipping logistics — directly comparable to Masterpiece's Marine Division for international and domestic vessel transport, customs brokerage, and marine project logistics.

Broad incumbents

• DHL Global Forwarding: Global logistics incumbent operating a dedicated art logistics service alongside its broader air, ocean, and road freight forwarding portfolio. Overlaps with Masterpiece in international fine art transport but as one offering among many.
• Kuehne+Nagel: One of the world's largest global freight forwarders offering specialized fine art and high-value cargo logistics as part of a broader portfolio. Overlaps with Masterpiece in air/ocean forwarding for art but does not specialize exclusively in the fine art vertical.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat5 records

Key risks6 records

Key highlights7 records

Customer concentration

• Facebookfacebook.com/Masterpieceintl
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/masterpiece-international
• Instagraminstagram.com/masterpiece_intl

Compliance1 record

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles6 records

Funding overview

Funding rounds1 record

Investors1 record

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 Masterpiece International