What Studio Olafur Eliasson does

Studio Olafur Eliasson is a Berlin-based artist studio founded by Icelandic-Danish artist Olafur Eliasson that develops, produces, and installs large-scale artworks, exhibitions, and public projects. The studio employs 51-100 staff, including architects, engineers, art historians, filmmakers, and assistants, and is supported by related ventures Studio Other Spaces (architecture and spatial experimentation, co-founded with Sebastian Behmann), Institut für Raumexperimente (art education and research), and minority interest in Little Sun (solar energy social enterprise).

The studio's core outputs are immersive light installations, geometric polyhedron sculptures, sound compositions from field recordings, architectural collaborations (including Harpa Reykjavik facades with Henning Larsen Architects and Fjordenhus for Kirk Kapital), museum exhibitions, and publications. Underlying techniques include the proprietary quasi-brick modular geometry developed with mathematician Einar Thorsteinn, dichroic and color-effect glass, mono-frequency lighting, mirror-based projection systems, and synaesthetic sound-to-light experiments. Distribution is global, with representation through Tanya Bonakdar Gallery, neugerriemschneider, Galería Elvira González, and PKM Gallery, and exhibitions spanning Europe, North America, Asia, Oceania, and the Middle East.

The studio earns revenue primarily through project-based commissions and exhibition fees from art museums (Tate Modern, QAGOMA, MOCA, Fondation Beyeler, National Museum of Qatar), municipal public-art contracts (Salt Lake City Arts Council), corporate commissions (Kirk Kapital), one-off art sales through commercial galleries, and book/catalog publishing with Taschen and other publishers. Pricing is quote-based and not publicly disclosed. The studio is privately held by its founder, with no external funding rounds or public ownership.

Name

Studio Olafur Eliasson

Legal name

Studio Olafur Eliasson

Website

https://olafureliasson.net

Company type

Private

Founded year

2004

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

51–100 employees

Short description

Berlin-based private artist studio founded in 2004 by Olafur Eliasson, employing 51-100 people to produce and install immersive light installations, sculptures, museum exhibitions, and public art commissions for museums, governments, corporate clients, and private collectors worldwide.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Contemporary Art Services

NAICS

Independent Artists, Writers, and Performers (711510)

SIC

Services-Mailing, Reproduction, Commercial Art & Photography (7330)

akta.pro primary industry

Art Galleries & Exhibition Spaces (Commercial & Nonprofit) (THAJADAH)

akta.pro secondary industry

Arts Education & Community Arts Programs (BPAGAHAC)

Keywords

• Immersive art installations
• Light art installations
• Public art commissions
• Contemporary art exhibitions
• Sculptural art works

Headquarters

HQ city

Berlin

HQ country

Germany

HQ region

Europe

Offices1 record

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. Art Sales: Sale of artworks including installations, sculptures, light works, and photographs to private collectors, museums, and institutions. Works are sold through commercial galleries and direct commissions.
2. Museum and Institution Exhibitions: Large-scale exhibitions at museums and galleries worldwide generate revenue through exhibition fees, catalog sales, and related licensing. Major exhibitions include shows at Tate Modern, QAGOMA, MOCA, Fondation Beyeler, and many others.
3. Public Art Commissions: Creation of permanent and temporary public installations commissioned by municipal governments, cultural organizations, and corporations. Examples include Harpa Reykjavik facades, Fjordenhus building, and Great Salt Lake installation.
4. Publications: Sale of books, catalogs, and monographs documenting the studio's work, including the comprehensive 'Studio Olafur Eliasson: An Encyclopedia (XL)' published by Taschen.

Go-to-market motion1 record

Distribution channels4 records

Marketing channels5 records

Core offering

Studio Olafur Eliasson develops, produces, and installs artworks, large-scale immersive installations, sculptures, exhibitions, and architectural projects for museums, public institutions, and corporate clients. The studio's practice centers on experiential art exploring perception, light, color phenomena, geometry, and environmental awareness, delivered through commissioned installations, exhibitions, and publications.

Product overview

Studio Olafur Eliasson is an artist-led studio creating experiential artworks rather than a traditional technology product company. The studio's portfolio centers on large-scale artistic installations, exhibitions, and publications that explore perception, light, environmental themes, and human experience. Key offerings include: Light installations (using projectors, colored glass, and mirrors); Sound compositions (field recordings merged into musical works); Architectural collaborations (facade designs like Harpa Reykjavik); Museum exhibitions (retrospective and solo shows globally); Public art commissions (outdoor works in urban spaces); Publications (catalogues, monographs, and artist books); Sculptural works; Video/film works; and thematic projects like SOE Kitchen, Earth Speakr, Ice Watch, Life, and The glacier melt series. These offerings form a unified artistic practice focused on sensory experience, environmental awareness, and public engagement rather than a software platform architecture.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Products and services

• Light Installations Immersive light-based artistic installations using projectors, colored glass, mirrors, and LED technology to create experiential environments exploring perception, color phenomena, and spatial relationships. Sold to and commissioned by museums, institutions, and private collectors.
• Sound Compositions Musical compositions and audio installations created from field recordings, often combined with visual elements in large-scale public artworks exploring environmental themes. Created for institutional and public commissions.
• Architectural Collaborations Collaborative architectural projects including facade designs using geometric quasi-brick modules, color-effect glass, and site-specific spatial interventions in public buildings. Commissioned by cultural and corporate clients.
• Museum Exhibitions Retrospective and solo exhibitions at major museums worldwide presenting installations, sculptures, photographs, and interactive works exploring light, perception, and environmental awareness. Commissioned by art museums and cultural institutions.
• Public Art Commissions Large-scale public artworks commissioned for outdoor urban spaces, including sculptures, light installations, and architectural interventions in cities worldwide. Commissioned by municipal governments and cultural organizations.
• Publications and Books Exhibition catalogues, monographs, and artist's books documenting the studio's works, research, and artistic philosophy. Sold through major booksellers and museum shops to general readers and art collectors.
• Sculptural Works Three-dimensional sculptural works including polyhedron-based sculptures, water features, glass installations, and geometric forms exploring light, reflection, and spatial perception. Sold through commercial galleries to collectors and institutions.
• Video and Film Works

Quantifiable outcome

• Exhibition attended by millions of visitors worldwide including landmark shows at Tate Modern, Versailles, and major institutions globally
• +1 more outcomes

Named customers7 records

Segments4 records

Ideal customer profiles4 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

AI capability3 records

Feature4 records

Partnerships

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

• KorelessflagshipStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 January 2026UK-based music producer Koreless collaborated with Olafur Eliasson to create the sound composition for 'A symphony of disappearing sounds for the Great Salt Lake', combining field recordings of local wildlife into a musical composition.
• Salt Lake City Arts CouncilcoreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 January 2026Commissioned the Great Salt Lake project as part of a broader initiative involving 12 local art projects aimed at raising awareness about the lake's critical decline.
• Salt Lake City Mayor's OfficecoreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 January 2026Municipal partner supporting the Great Salt Lake public art initiative as part of city efforts to address environmental challenges.
• Shoshone NationcoreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 January 2026Indigenous nation community that provided input and collaboration on the Great Salt Lake project, ensuring cultural sensitivity and traditional knowledge informed the environmental awareness initiative.
• Tanya Bonakdar GallerycoreChannel Partner/ Reseller/ Distributor · 1 January 2024Commercial gallery representing Olafur Eliasson in New York and Los Angeles, presenting solo exhibitions including 'Your psychoacoustic light ensemble' (2024) and ongoing sales representation.
• Getty Foundation / PST ARTflagshipStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 January 2024MOCA Los Angeles exhibition 'OPEN' was part of the landmark Getty initiative PST ART: Art & Science Collide, a major cultural program spanning Southern California.
• Fondation BeyelerflagshipStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 January 2021Major Swiss museum that hosted the 'Life' exhibition (2021), featuring immersive installations exploring more-than-human perspectives and environmental themes.
• Henning Larsen ArchitectsflagshipStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 January 2005Studio Olafur Eliasson designed the facades of Harpa Reykjavik Concert Hall and Conference Centre in collaboration with Henning Larsen Architects, integrating artistic vision with architectural practice.
• Einar ThorsteinncoreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 January 2002Mathematician and geometer who developed the quasi brick system with Olafur Eliasson, enabling the creation of the distinctive geometric facades for Harpa Reykjavik. Collaboration began in 2002 following Thorsteinn's 15 years of research.
• Studio Other SpacescoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerStudio for spatial experimentation co-founded by Olafur Eliasson and Sebastian Behmann, focusing on architectural and artistic projects that merge art and architecture.
• Institut für RaumexperimenteminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerAn institution co-founded by Olafur Eliasson dedicated to spatial experimentation and artistic research, fostering interdisciplinary collaboration.
• Little SunminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerSocial enterprise co-founded by Olafur Eliasson providing solar-powered light to underserved communities, combining art, technology, and social impact.

Scale indicators3 records

Recent moves6 records

Expansion highlights4 records

Direct peers

• Anish Kapoor Studio: London-based studio of Anish Kapoor producing monumental sculptures, mirror/optical installations, and public commissions. Closely parallels Studio Olafur Eliasson on scale, public-commission profile, materials-driven practice, and ongoing global museum exhibitions.
• Random International: London-based studio known for immersive, light-and-motion installations such as 'Rain Room.' Directly comparable in producing sensorially immersive installations for museums, public commissions, and commercial collectors using proprietary technology.
• Ai Weiwei Studio: International practice of artist-activist Ai Weiwei, producing installations, sculpture, and public art with an activist/thematic orientation. Comparable as a globally touring contemporary-artist studio combining museum exhibitions with public-art practice.
• Studio Drift: Amsterdam-based art studio (founded by Lonneke Gordijn and Ralph Nauta) developing large-scale kinetic, light, and nature-inspired installations. Comparable as a multi-disciplinary contemporary-art studio producing immersive installations for museums, galleries, and public spaces.
• Jeff Koons Studio: Jeff Koons operates a New York-based private studio producing large-scale sculptures and installations for top museums, galleries, and brand partners. Highly comparable as a blue-chip contemporary-artist studio with similar scale, revenue mix (art sales + commissions), and global museum pipeline.
• Marina Abramović: Bridget O'Dwyer of the Marina Abramović practice — the artist operates with a small studio producing installation-based works and global retrospective exhibitions at major museums. Comparable as an independent-artist studio with a global retrospective-exhibition model.
• James Turrell Studio: Long-running US practice of James Turrell focused on light, perception, and astronomical phenomena, including the multi-decade Roden Crater project. Closely comparable on light-perception focus and large-scale long-cycle museum commissions.
• Damien Hirst Studio: Damien Hirst operates a private UK studio producing high-value artworks sold through galleries and at auction. Comparable as a blue-chip contemporary-artist business reliant on gallery relationships, collector demand, and major museum exhibitions.

Broad incumbents

• teamLab: Japan-based interdisciplinary art collective producing large-scale immersive digital installations for museums and permanent venues globally. Comparable on immersive, large-scale experiential work and museum/public-venue footprint, though more digital-tech oriented and broader in scale.

Emerging players

• Refik Anadol Studio: LA-based media artist studio producing data-driven, AI-driven immersive installations for museums and corporate clients. Comparable as a contemporary art studio focused on large-format immersive works, with partial overlap in installation themes and museum exhibition model.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat4 records

Key risks6 records

Key highlights7 records

Customer concentration

• Xx.com/olafureliasson

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles1 record

Subsidiaries3 records

Funding overview

Funding rounds

Investors

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 Studio Olafur Eliasson