Verlag für moderne Kunst

What Verlag für moderne Kunst does

Verlag für moderne Kunst (VFMK) is a privately held art-book publishing house founded in 1974 in Nürnberg, Germany and relocated to Vienna, Austria in 2014. Operating as Verlag für moderne Kunst GmbH with a lean team of roughly seven staff led by Managing Director Silvia Jaklitsch, the company produces a catalog of art books, exhibition catalogs, monographs, and artist publications spanning contemporary art, photography, architecture, design, theatre, film, and literature. Primary publishing partners are museums and art institutions (such as the Heidi Horten Collection and Museum Tinguely) and contemporary artists; recent catalog output also includes a children's book line launched in late 2024 and a branded-goods sub-brand (caps, embroidered apparel, tote bags, limited artist-edition objects such as Šejla Kamerić's MAZE).

VFMK generates revenue primarily through one-time unit sales of books and goods via its own e-commerce storefront, museum shops and book dealers, and a layered wholesale network: D.A.P. Art Publishers handles worldwide distribution from New York, LKG handles Europe (excluding Great Britain and Switzerland), and Bookport Associates represents Southern Europe (Italy, Spain, Portugal, Greece, Cyprus). Direct sales representatives cover Germany and Austria, and the publisher participates in art fairs such as viennacontemporary plus pop-up concept stores. Pricing is transaction-based, with retail book prices typically in the EUR 15-55 range (excl. VAT), free shipping within Austria/Germany above EUR 100 net and worldwide above EUR 250 net.

The operating model is curated and project-based: VFMK accompanies each publication from planning through sophisticated design and high-quality production in close collaboration with artists and institutions, and has accumulated multiple regional book-design awards (Die Schönsten Bücher Österreichs, Most Beautiful Books of Switzerland and Liechtenstein) over 2021-2023. The technology footprint is commodity e-commerce (Stripe, PayPal, Visa/Mastercard processing, MailChimp newsletter) with no proprietary platform or disclosed AI/ML capabilities.

Name

Verlag für moderne Kunst

Legal name

Verlag für moderne Kunst GmbH

Website

https://vfmk.org

Company type

Private

Founded year

1974

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

1–10 employees

Short description

Verlag für moderne Kunst is a Vienna-based art-book publisher founded in 1974, producing contemporary-art monographs, exhibition catalogs, children's books, and branded goods for museums, galleries, artists, and art collectors via worldwide wholesale and direct e-commerce.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Art Book Publishing

NAICS

Book Publishers (513130)

SIC

Books: Publishing Or Publishing & Printing (2731)

akta.pro primary industry

Art, Photography & Illustrated Books Publishing (MPAJAAAF)

akta.pro secondary industries

Picture Book Publishing (MPAJAFAA), Hardcover & Premium Editions Publishing (MPAJAAAE)

Keywords

• Art book publishing
• Contemporary art monographs
• Exhibition catalogs
• Artist publications
• Art merchandise retail

Headquarters

HQ city

Vienna

HQ country

Austria

HQ region

Europe

Offices1 record

Markets served

GTM type

B2B and B2C

Offering type

Digital Commerce or Content

Cost components

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

Revenue model

1. Book Sales: Sale of art books and exhibition catalogs through the company's own web shop and via book dealers worldwide. Publications cover contemporary art, photography, architecture, design, theatre, film, literature, and related topics.
2. Goods Sales: Sale of art-related goods including branded merchandise such as caps, embroidered shirts, tote bags, and art objects through the company's web shop.

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion2 records

Distribution channels6 records

Marketing channels6 records

Core offering

Verlag für moderne Kunst publishes contemporary art books, monographs, exhibition catalogs, photography books, and artist publications in collaboration with artists, galleries, and museums. The catalog spans contemporary art, architecture, design, photography, theatre, film, and literature, with sales conducted through the company's own web shop and a worldwide network of book dealers. Supplementary offerings include branded merchandise (caps, embroidered shirts, tote bags), limited artist editions, and a new children's picture book line launched in 2024.

Product overview

Verlag für moderne Kunst (VFMK) is an art book publisher founded in 1974 in Nürnberg, now based in Vienna since 2014, with over 40 years of experience in art book production. The company publishes a diverse catalog of art publications including contemporary art monographs, photography books, exhibition catalogs, artist memoirs, and children's books (launched 2024). Their product portfolio centers on art publications (the core offering), supplemented by VFMK branded goods such as apparel and limited artist editions. Publications cover topics spanning contemporary art, photography, architecture, design, theatre, film, literature, and cultural criticism, with seasonal catalogs highlighting new releases. The company maintains global distribution through partners including D.A.P. Art Publishers and LKG, and operates an online shop for direct sales.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Products and services

• VFMK Art Publications Award-winning art books, monographs, exhibition catalogs, and artist publications covering contemporary art, photography, architecture, design, theatre, film, and literature. Published in collaboration with artists, galleries, and museums worldwide and sold through the VFMK web shop and book dealers globally.
• VFMK Children's Books Children's picture books targeted at children aged 6 and above, with the first title addressing intergenerational relationships and dementia. The line is part of VFMK's expanded publishing program, with three new titles planned per year.
• VFMK Branded Goods Branded merchandise sold through the VFMK web shop, including apparel (caps, embroidered shirts), tote bags, art-inspired stationery and notebooks, and limited artist editions such as the MAZE piece by Šejla Kamerić and Der wache Moment by Käthe Schönle.
• VFMK Online Shop Direct e-commerce storefront at vfmk.org for purchasing publications and branded goods, with free shipping within Austria and Germany for orders of EUR 100 (net) or more and free worldwide shipping for orders of EUR 250 (net) or more.
• David Schalko – Geister / Ghosts Photography book by Austrian director David Schalko, his first photo book, featuring photographs of stains and marks found in urban environments with captions in Schalko's distinctive style.
• Brian Large – At Large – Behind the Camera with Brian Large 512-page memoir by Brian Large, written with Jane Scovell with a foreword by Renée Fleming, covering fifty years of directing opera, ballet, and orchestral music for television.
• Cordelia Noe – Dear Dog An interactive book for dog owners with personalized double pages for up to 15 friends, biographical chapter, a farewell section, stickers, and postcards.
• How To Not Fuck Up Your Art-World Happiness Vol. 2 Second volume of witty tips, tricks and hacks for staying sane and engaged in the art world, following up the bestselling first volume which sold 5,000 copies.
• Seasonal Catalog Downloads Seasonal PDF catalogs available for download, including the Verlag für moderne Kunst Spring 2025 Catalog and Autumn 2025 Catalog featuring highlights and new releases.

Segments4 records

Ideal customer profiles3 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Integration6 records

Partnerships

Six partnerships are on record, tiered minor, core and supporting.

• art:bad gastein / sommer.frische.kunstminorGTM or Marketing Partner · 1 January 2023VFMK partnered with art:bad gastein and sommer.frische.kunst to operate a pop-up concept store in Bad Gastein (Wasserfallstr. 7) from July 14 to September 3, 2023, as part of the summer art program.
• Artbook/D.A.P.coreChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorD.A.P. Art Publishers (155 Sixth Avenue, 2nd Floor, NY 10013 New York) serves as VFMK's worldwide distribution partner, presenting and advertising publications directly at museum shops and bookshops internationally.
• LKG Leipziger Kommissions- und Großhandelsgesellschaft mbHcoreChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorLKG (An der Südspitze 1–12, 04571 Rötha, Leipzig) handles distribution for VFMK across Europe, excluding Great Britain and Switzerland. The company manages logistics, order processing, and wholesale distribution.
• Bookport AssociatesminorChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorBookport Associates (Via Luigi Salma 7, 20094 Corsico, Italy) serves as the sales representative for VFMK in Italy, Spain, Portugal, Greece, and Cyprus.
• MailChimp (The Rocket Science Group LLC)supportingTechnology or IntegrationMailChimp is used as the newsletter and email marketing platform. Subscriber email addresses are stored and processed on the MailChimp platform in compliance with GDPR.
• Softcover Bookshop (Vienna)minorChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorSoftcover bookshop in Vienna (Stumpergasse 53-55, 1060 Vienna) serves as a venue for VFMK book launches and presentations, such as the Jonas Höschl '80 Portraits' presentation in March 2025.

Scale indicators3 records

Recent moves6 records

Expansion highlights5 records

Direct peers

• Walther König: Cologne-based art book publisher and bookstore chain with deep catalogs in contemporary art, photography, and architecture. Comparable on product mix and on operating its own retail/distribution infrastructure alongside wholesale.
• Phaidon Press: International publisher of books on art, architecture, design, and visual culture with strong museum and collector channels. Comparable on subject breadth (art/architecture/design/photography) and global distribution scale.
• Skira Editore: Italian art book publisher with strong contemporary art and photography catalogs and international museum partnerships. Comparable on catalog breadth, institutional client base, and premium design positioning.
• Prestel Publishing: Munich-based art book publisher with monographs, exhibition catalogs, and a notable children's art-book line. Comparable on contemporary art focus and on operating a parallel children's imprint, a model VFMK is now entering.
• Steidl: German publisher renowned for high-production photography and art books with global artist collaborations. Comparable on production-quality ethos, photography-heavy catalog, and premium positioning.
• Hatje Cantz: German art book publisher specializing in contemporary art monographs, exhibition catalogs, and photography. Highly comparable to VFMK on catalog mix, institutional client base, and DACH-centric publishing tradition.
• Taschen: Global art and photography book publisher with a similar contemporary-art catalog (James Turrell, Animalia references appear on VFMK's site alongside Taschen editions). Most direct comparable in product scope, premium positioning, and global distribution model.

Regional players

• Edition Lammerhuber: Austrian art and photography book publisher based near Vienna with award-winning photography titles. Comparable on geography (Austrian/German-speaking market), catalog focus on photography and culture, and design-led premium positioning.

Broad incumbents

• Rizzoli International Publications: Established US-based art and illustrated book publisher with deep catalogs in contemporary art, architecture, and design. Comparable on art-book subject scope and museum-channel distribution; broader in scale and catalog depth.

Others

• D.A.P. (Distributed Art Publishers): Worldwide distributor that also publishes and represents a large portfolio of independent art publishers. Listed as VFMK's worldwide distribution partner; comparable as a marketplace/distribution infrastructure rather than a direct publishing competitor.

Market position

Strengths4 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat3 records

Key risks5 records

Key highlights7 records

Customer concentration

• Xinstagram.com/vfmk_books_goods
• Facebookfacebook.com/VFMKbooks
• Instagraminstagram.com/vfmk_books_goods
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/verlag-f%C3%BCr-moderne-kunst

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles4 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 Verlag für moderne Kunst