Atthowe Fine Art Services

What Atthowe Fine Art Services does

Atthowe Fine Art Services is a California Worker-Owned Cooperative headquartered in Emeryville/Oakland that provides end-to-end fine art handling for museums, galleries, private collectors, municipalities, artists, and corporate clients. Operating since 1971 (the corporate entity dates to 1928 as a barge and trucking business), the firm offers six interconnected core services: transportation and logistics using a fleet of air-ride climate-controlled vehicles; custom packing and crating meeting museum specifications; installation and rigging for projects ranging from gallery walls to monumental public sculpture; licensed California general contracting for large-scale public art and architectural placemaking; in-house fabrication of custom mounts, frames, and vibration-mitigation hardware; and 75,000 sq ft of seismic-secure, high-security storage (45,000 sq ft of which is temperature- and humidity-controlled).

The company's competitive technology is rooted in specialized physical engineering rather than software. Notable proprietary components include a wire-rope isolation framework combined with human-in-the-loop logistics that achieves up to -20 dB attenuation in critical vibration ranges for sensitive works (validated on the transport of Diego Rivera's 60,000-lb Pan American Unity mural), as well as the equipment fleet to handle artworks up to 85,000 lbs (395-ton cranes, Goldhofer hydraulic crawlers, 9-axle trailers). ICEFAT certification, passed in March 2024 against 181 standards across 13 categories, serves as the principal external quality credential.

Revenue is generated through two streams: project-based professional services (transportation, crating, installation, rigging, fabrication, construction management) priced per engagement with quotes based on distance, weight, complexity, and duration; and managed storage billed on space utilization and duration. Go-to-market is direct enterprise field sales augmented by conference presence at WMA, ICEFAT, and ARCS, project case studies, and reputation within the art community. The firm converted to worker ownership on January 28, 2021, with 31 of its 44 total staff holding worker-owner status as of 2026, up from 16 at conversion.

Name

Atthowe Fine Art Services

Legal name

Atthowe Fine Art Services

Website

https://atthowe.com

Company type

Private

Founded year

1971

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

11–50 employees

Short description

Atthowe Fine Art Services is an Oakland-based, employee-owned cooperative providing specialized transportation, crating, rigging, fabrication, installation, and climate-controlled storage for museums, galleries, private collectors, artists, and government clients, with equipment capable of handling artworks up to 85,000 lbs.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Fine Art Logistics and Handling Services

akta.pro primary industry

Fine Art Handling & Transport (HSAKAEAB)

akta.pro secondary industries

Fine Art Packing & Crating (HSAKADAE), Sculpture & Oversized Fragile Item Moving (HSAKAEAG), Specialty Physical Artifact Storage (Museum Collections, Historical Documents, Rare Materials) (TLALALAJ), Fine Art & Exhibition Cargo Forwarding (TLACAJAH)

Keywords

• Fine art handling
• Art transportation logistics
• Art installation rigging
• Custom art crating
• Climate-controlled art storage

Headquarters

HQ city

Oakland

HQ country

United States

HQ region

North America

Offices2 records

Markets served

GTM type

B2B

Offering type

Services

Cost components

Personnel, Operations, Infrastructure, Marketing or Sales, Supply Chain, Others

Revenue model

1. Fine Art Handling Services: Project-based professional services including transportation, packing/crating, installation, rigging, fabrication, construction/project management, and storage. Revenue is generated through customized project engagements with museums, galleries, private collectors, and institutions.
2. Climate-Controlled Storage: Long-term and short-term storage services for artwork and cultural objects in seismically-sound, high-security facilities. Billed based on space utilization and storage duration.

Go-to-market motion1 record

Distribution channels1 record

Marketing channels5 records

Core offering

Atthowe Fine Art Services is a full-service fine art handling company that transports, packs/crates, installs, rigs, fabricates, and stores fine art and fragile objects. The company operates a climate-controlled fleet for transportation, designs and builds museum-spec custom crates, executes complex installations in museums, public spaces, and corporate buildings, manages large-scale public art construction projects as a licensed California contractor, and maintains 75,000 sq ft (45,000 sq ft climate-controlled) of seismically-sound high-security storage.

Product overview

Atthowe Fine Art Services is a full-service fine art handling company offering six interconnected core services: Transportation and Logistics (climate-controlled fleet, courier and customs services), Packing and Crating (custom crates meeting museum specifications), Installation and Rigging (museum to public space installations), Construction and Project Management (licensed CA contractor for large-scale public art), Fabrication (custom mounts, frames, vibration mitigation), and Storage and Collections Management (75,000 sq. ft. seismic-secure facilities). The company operates as an employee-owned cooperative and serves museums, private collectors, galleries, and municipalities.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Products and services

• Transportation and Logistics Operates a fleet of air-ride climate-controlled vehicles with oversized lift gates for transporting rare, large, or non-standard art and objects. Includes daily pick-up and delivery in northern California, booking with national and international carriers, courier services, customs brokerage for air and truck shipments, and airport tarmac supervision.
• Packing and Crating Designs and builds custom crates for artwork and sculptures meeting museum specifications. Creates frameworks with special padding and hardware for unusually-shaped pieces, structures for sculptures and delicate objects providing shock absorption and vibration mitigation, and temperature/humidity barriers for fragile items.
• Installation and Rigging Handles installations at museums, public spaces, corporate buildings, and private homes. Provides coordination and supervision worldwide, qualified riggers for cranes and gantries, permanent installations using wood, steel or cement fabrication, and seismic stabilization and security hanging systems.
• Construction and Project Management Licensed California contractor specializing in large-scale public art and architectural placemaking. Offers project and on-site construction management including permitting, government contract compliance, payroll reporting, feasibility consultation, strategic planning, and subcontract management for design, engineering, fabrication, and specialized trades.
• Fabrication Creates custom mounts in steel, brass, or clear plex; frames and casework with hand-finished hardwood, steel, aluminum, or water-gilded finishes; furniture and casework displays; custom vibration mitigation solutions; and seismic and structural engineered solutions.
• Storage and Collections Management Seismically-sound high-security storage facilities totaling 75,000 sq. feet with 45,000 sq. feet temperature and humidity controlled. Includes space for viewing, photography, and conservation work, custom-built rack systems for paintings and sculptures, 24-hour monitored fire alarm and security system, and condition reports and assessments.

Quantifiable outcome

• Wire rope isolators achieved up to -20 dB attenuation in critical vibration range for Diego Rivera mural transport

Named customers7 records

Segments5 records

Ideal customer profiles4 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Feature3 records

Partnerships

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

• ICEFAT (International Convention of Exhibition and Fine Art Transporters)coreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 March 2024Atthowe is an active member of ICEFAT, the global organization assuring excellence in art handling, warehousing, and shipping. In March 2024, Atthowe passed ICEFAT's comprehensive third-party audit covering 181 standards across 13 categories, demonstrating adherence to the highest international standards in fine art services.
• Project EquityflagshipStrategic or Co-development Partner · 28 January 2021Project Equity guided Atthowe through its transition from a founder-owned business to a worker-owned cooperative in 2021. This partnership was essential to the company's successful conversion, with Project Equity providing expertise in cooperative governance, financial planning, and the legal process of employee ownership transition.
• Western Museums Association (WMA)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerAtthowe participates in WMA annual conferences as a sponsor and presenter. In 2025, the company facilitated a panel on cooperative governance models in museums, contributing to professional discourse on museum leadership and governance.
• Association of Registrars and Collection Specialists (ARCS)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerAtthowe sponsors ARCS scholarships to support financial access to the conference for professionals in collections care. The company maintains active engagement with registrars and collections specialists who are key decision-makers in art handling and storage.
• Preservation ArtscoreImplementation/ SI/ Consulting PartnerPreservation Arts partnered with Atthowe on hundreds of rigging and outdoor sculpture projects over ten years. They provided surface cleaning and stabilization services for the Olmec Head relocation at CCSF.
• Sheedy Drayage CocoreImplementation/ SI/ Consulting PartnerSheedy Drayage provided heavy equipment including a 500-ton crane for the installation of the 32,000 lb Whales sculpture at CCSF. Partnered with Atthowe on complex lifting operations requiring specialized equipment.
• ARG Conservation ServicescoreImplementation/ SI/ Consulting PartnerARG Conservation Services worked with Atthowe on the installation of Whales sculpture at CCSF, providing conservation expertise for the refurbished artwork.
• Artsource ConsultingminorChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorArtsource Consulting engaged Atthowe for the installation of Jeppe Hein's Modified Social Bench NY #12 in Emeryville, serving as an intermediary between the artist and Atthowe's installation services.

Scale indicators6 records

Recent moves7 records

Expansion highlights4 records

Direct peers

• Masterpiece International: US fine art logistics company providing domestic and international shipping, storage, and installation for galleries, collectors, and museums — directly competes with Atthowe in art transport and storage.
• Atelier 4: Fine art storage, logistics, and installation specialist serving East Coast museums and collectors — direct competitor with overlapping service lines, though geographically separate from Atthowe.
• Crozier Fine Arts (Crown Fine Art, an Iron Mountain company): Largest North American fine art logistics and storage specialist, offering transportation, climate-controlled storage, installation, and project management to museums, galleries, and collectors — a direct competitor with comparable service breadth and ICEFAT membership.
• U.S. Art Company: Fine art transportation and storage company serving museums, galleries, and private collectors across the US — directly comparable service portfolio and target customer base to Atthowe.
• Artex Fine Art Services: Fine art handling company providing rigging, installation, transportation, and storage for museums and private collectors — closely comparable in service mix to Atthowe, including rigging of large-scale sculpture.
• Dietl International Services: International fine art transport and logistics company serving museums, galleries, and collectors — competes head-to-head with Atthowe in specialized art shipping and handling.

Broad incumbents

• Cadogan Tate: UK-founded global fine art logistics firm with US presence providing transportation, storage, installation, and shipping — comparable service mix but larger international footprint and broader geographic reach than Atthowe.
• Hasenkamp: European-headquartered global fine art logistics provider offering transport, storage, and installation across multiple continents — broader global footprint than Atthowe but directly comparable in service offering.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat5 records

Key risks5 records

Key highlights6 records

Customer concentration

Compliance1 record

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles6 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 Atthowe Fine Art Services