URDLA

What URDLA does

URDLA is a French non-profit art center and master printmaking workshop founded in 1978 in Villeurbanne (Lyon metropolitan area), operating as an association under French law (loi 1901). The organization was established by Max Schoendorff and a group of artists to preserve lithographic presses from the now-defunct Imprimerie Badier, following the Lyonnaise tradition of publisher-printers such as Étienne Dolet and Sébastien Gryphe. Today URDLA represents a roster of contemporary artists and produces original limited-edition prints (estampes) across multiple techniques including lithography, intaglio/taille-douce, relief (xylography, linocut), typography, screen printing, and photogravure, with typical editions of approximately 20-30 numbered and signed copies.

URDLA's revenue is generated through three primary streams: direct sales of original prints to collectors via its e-commerce platform (urdla.com) and physical gallery (priced €50-€2,500+, VAT-exempt under Article 293B CGI); formal educational programs including Qualiopi-certified workshops, stages, and the Scuola program; and artists' book (livre de peintre) publishing. Distribution is omnichannel, combining a free-entry gallery open Tuesday-Saturday with worldwide shipping from the e-commerce storefront. The organization also engages in cultural outreach through school partnerships (notably CHAAP at Collège des Gratte-Ciel Morice Leroux) and a regular editorial blog (Gazette).

The current team consists of fewer than 10 people, including Director Léo Marin, artistic and commercial lead Marceau Baptiste, mediation lead Emma Courbon, and master printmakers Jacob Debord (lithographer) and Anne Carrique (taille-doucière). Christine Vaisse serves as President following the 2012 death of founder Max Schoendorff. No venture or private equity involvement is present; governance rests with an elected board. The organization maintains formal deposit of prints at the Bibliothèque Nationale de France, reinforcing the archival and provenance dimension of its catalog.

Name

URDLA

Legal name

URDLA

Website

https://urdla.com

Company type

Private

Founded year

1978

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

1–10 employees

Short description

URDLA is a French non-profit art center and master printmaking workshop in Villeurbanne that produces and sells limited-edition original prints on behalf of contemporary artists, while running educational programs and artists' books. It serves art collectors, contemporary artists, and educational institutions.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Headquarters

HQ city

Villeurbanne

HQ country

France

HQ region

Europe

Offices1 record

Markets served

GTM type

B2C

Offering type

Services

Cost components

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

Revenue model

1. Artwork Sales: URDLA sells original prints (estampes) directly to collectors through its e-commerce platform and gallery. Prices range from €50 to €2,500+ depending on the work, technique, edition size, and artist. Works are shipped worldwide with free shipping in metropolitan France. VAT exempt under Article 293B of the French CGI.
2. Educational Programs and Workshops: URDLA offers workshops, internships, and training programs in printmaking. They recruit interns for studio assistant positions and conduct educational workshops for various audiences including schools, colleges, and the general public.
3. Artist Book Publishing: URDLA publishes books of paintings (livres de peintre) and artists' books, extending their printmaking expertise to collaborative book projects with artists.

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion1 record

Distribution channels2 records

Marketing channels3 records

Core offering

URDLA is a contemporary art center, gallery, and master printmaking studio that produces and sells limited-edition original prints (estampes) created in collaboration with contemporary artists using lithography, intaglio (taille-douce), relief (xylography/linocut), screen printing, and typography techniques. It operates a publicly accessible exhibition gallery in Villeurbanne, an online catalog (urdla.com), an artist representation roster, artists' book publishing (livres de peintres), and Qualiopi-certified printmaking workshops and training programs.

Product overview

URDLA (originally Union Régionale pour le Développement de la Lithographie d'Art, now Utopie Raisonnée pour les Droits de la Liberté en Art) is a contemporary art center and printmaking studio founded in 1978 in Villeurbanne, France. The organization operates as both a gallery and a master printmaking workshop, offering original print editions across multiple techniques including lithography, xylography (wood engraving), linocut, intaglio/taille-douce, and typography. URDLA represents a roster of international contemporary artists and sells their works through an integrated e-commerce catalog. Beyond production, URDLA provides educational programs through workshops, stages, and its Scuola program, and publishes artists' books. The center holds Qualiopi certification for its training activities and maintains a blog (Gazette) featuring artistic commentary and cultural articles.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Products and services

• URDLA Art Gallery & Exhibition Space Public art gallery and exhibition space in Villeurbanne, presenting rotating contemporary art exhibitions featuring works from URDLA's represented artists. Open to visitors with free entry.
• Printmaking Studio (Atelier) Master printmaking workshop offering lithography, xylography, linocut, intaglio (taille-douce), typography, screen printing, and heliogravure services, where artists collaborate with URDLA's master printers to produce original multiples.
• Artwork Catalog & Online Sales E-commerce catalog selling original prints and artworks from URDLA's represented artists, with prices ranging approximately €50 to €5,000 across lithographs, xylographs, etchings, linocuts, and other techniques. Ships worldwide with free shipping within metropolitan France.
• Artist Representation URDLA represents a roster of contemporary artists (e.g., Erik Dietman, Delphine Reist, Robert Wilson, Phoebe Boswell, Giulia Andreani, Alison Knowles, Mario Merz, Damien Deroubaix) and co-publishes their original prints under a defined edition-split arrangement.
• Educational Workshops (Stages & Formations) Qualiopi-certified artistic training workshops, internships, and educational programs including studio workshops, mediation activities, and the Scuola program for various audiences including schools, colleges, and the general public.
• Artists' Books (Livres de Peintres) URDLA publishes limited-edition artists' books (livres de peintres) that combine visual artwork with text, continuing the tradition of livre d'artistes in collaboration with contemporary artists.
• Gift Vouchers (Bon Cadeau) Gift vouchers available for purchase on the URDLA website that allow recipients to visit the gallery or acquire artworks from the catalog.

Named customers1 record

Segments3 records

Ideal customer profiles3 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Feature3 records

Partnerships

One partnership is on record.

• CHAAP (Classe à Horaires Aménagés Arts Plastiques) - Collège des Gratte-Ciel Morice Leroux, VilleurbannecoreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 January 2024URDLA is a partner of the CHAAP (Classe à Horaires Aménagés Arts Plastiques) program at Collège des Gratte-Ciel Morice Leroux in Villeurbanne. This educational partnership involves artistic workshops and programs for students, extending URDLA's mission into cultural education and youth engagement.

Scale indicators2 records

Recent moves7 records

Expansion highlights5 records

Regional players

• Éditions Lienhart: French fine art print publisher producing limited editions with artists, including lithography and intaglio. Comparable European regional edition publishing model.
• Derrière l'Usine: French printmaking workshop operating in a converted industrial site, producing original editions with artists. Comparable French regional atelier model with gallery and residency activities.

Direct peers

• Atelier Michèle Broutta: Long-running Paris printmaking workshop producing original prints and editions for contemporary artists. Directly comparable business model of artist-driven fine art print production.
• Harlan & Weaver: New York intaglio printmaking publisher producing original etchings with contemporary artists. Directly comparable fine art print publishing model and artist roster approach.
• Idem Paris: Paris-based fine art lithography and printmaking studio offering original editions with artist collaborations. Direct functional peer as a French printmaking atelier publishing original works and serving contemporary artists.
• Crown Point Press: San Francisco fine art press specializing in original etchings and intaglio prints with established artists. Closely aligned model of workshop + gallery + edition publishing.
• Durham Press: Pennsylvania-based fine art press producing original editions in multiple techniques with contemporary artists. Comparable workshop + publishing model with established artist roster.
• Two Palms Press: New York fine art press specializing in screenprint, woodcut, and digital editions with contemporary artists. Comparable publisher-printer model serving leading artists.

Broad incumbents

• Graphicstudio (University of South Florida): USF-affiliated research atelier producing original prints with contemporary artists. Comparable workshop + artist-collaboration model, with a larger institutional footprint.
• Tamarind Institute: University of New Mexico-affiliated fine art lithography workshop training master printers and producing editions. Comparable printmaking craft and institutional orientation, though with an academic anchor.

Market position

Strengths4 records

Weaknesses4 records

Competitive moat4 records

Key risks5 records

Key highlights5 records

Customer concentration

• Xx.com/urdla_

Compliance1 record

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles9 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 URDLA