What FriendsWithYou does

FriendsWithYou is a Miami-based contemporary art collective founded in 2002 by Sam Borkson and Arturo Sandoval. The studio produces immersive art installations, large-scale public sculptures, and limited-edition collectibles, anchored by its long-running Little Cloud character and related cast of figures rendered across fiberglass, inflatable, bronze, silkscreen, lenticular prints, and mixed media.

The studio's IP is monetized through multiple parallel channels: limited-edition print and sculpture sales via galleries including Perrotin, Nanzuka, The Hole, Gavlak, and Library Street Collective, as well as direct-to-consumer sales through Shopify; brand collaborations with fashion and consumer-products companies such as Moncler, Lacoste, Alice+Olivia, Guess, Mattel Creations, Kidrobot, and CASETiFY; standalone fashion through the FRIEND brand launched in 2024; and commissioned public-art installations and museum exhibitions at institutions including MOCA, Seattle Art Museum, Cleveland Public Library, Oakland Museum, and PARCO.

Revenue mechanics are project- and edition-based rather than recurring. Limited-edition prints are priced in the $200-$333 range with edition sizes between 25 and 500 units; commissions and exhibitions are episodic and negotiated per project; fashion and licensing collaborations generate episodic brand fees plus royalty or wholesale participation. The studio serves institutional art-world buyers (museums, municipal commissions), consumer-facing brand partners, and individual collectors globally, with growing activity in Japan and other international markets since 2024.

Name

FriendsWithYou

Legal name

FriendsWithYou

Website

https://friendswithyou.com

Company type

Private

Founded year

2002

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

11–50 employees

Short description

FriendsWithYou is a Miami-based contemporary art collective founded in 2002 by Sam Borkson and Arturo Sandoval that produces immersive installations, public sculptures, and limited-edition collectibles for museums, fashion brands, municipal clients, and collectors globally.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Headquarters

HQ city

Los Angeles

HQ country

United States

HQ region

North America

Offices1 record

Markets served

GTM type

B2B and B2C

Offering type

Services

Cost components

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

Revenue model

1. Limited Edition Art Sales: Sale of limited edition prints, sculptures, and collectibles through their Shopify store and gallery partners. Includes bronzes, lenticular prints, silkscreen prints, and porcelain works in numbered editions.
2. Fashion & Brand Collaborations: Revenue from collaborative products with fashion brands including Moncler, Lacoste, Alice + Olivia, Guess, and Mattel Creations. Products include apparel, accessories, and collectibles.
3. Public Art Commissions: Creating commissioned public installations for museums, corporations, and municipalities. Examples include Seattle Art Museum, Philadelphia Navy Yard, Shibuya Japan, and Miami Beach installations.
4. Exhibition & Performance Fees: Fees from exhibitions at museums and galleries, including performance events like the MOCA Optimal Vibration Alignment event.
5. Licensed Merchandise: Licensing of brand characters and imagery for merchandise including phone cases (CASETiFY), toys (Mattel Creations, Kidrobot), home goods, and accessories.

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion3 records

Distribution channels5 records

Marketing channels6 records

Core offering

FriendsWithYou is a contemporary art collective that creates immersive installations, public art sculptures, and limited edition collectibles including prints, bronzes, lenticular works, and plush sculptures. The studio designs and produces artworks centered on its proprietary Little Cloud IP and FRIEND fashion brand, and licenses its characters for capsule collections with fashion houses and toy companies.

Product overview

FriendsWithYou is a Miami-based art studio and creative agency founded in 2002 by Sam Borkson and Arturo Sandoval. The company operates as a multi-disciplinary art practice offering a diverse portfolio of products and services centered around their animist-inspired IP and characters. Their core offering revolves around 'Little Cloud' as the primary iconic symbol, supported by various limited-edition collectibles including plush sculptures (Friends series), art prints (silkscreen, lenticular, embossed), sculptures (bronze, porcelain, fiberglass), and home goods (lamps, vases). They collaborate with fashion brands (Moncler, Lacoste, Alice + Olivia, Guess) and toy companies (Kidrobot, Mattel), while also producing large-scale public art installations, immersive gallery installations, and experiential events. The 2024 launch of the FRIEND fashion brand marks their expansion into wearable products as conceptual art.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Brands

• FRIEND: New fashion brand and conceptual artwork created with the purpose of distinguishing a good human or friend, featuring amulets that bring luck and connection

Products and services

• Public Art Installations Large-scale commissioned public artworks and inflatable sculptures installed at museums, city centers, retail environments, and corporate campuses, including Little Cloud Sky at Seattle Art Museum and Seated Little Cloud at Philadelphia Navy Yard.
• Limited Edition Art Prints Numbered-edition silkscreen, lenticular, and gold-foil embossed prints including You're My Little Cloud, Magic Seed, Reflection Portal, Mr. TTT, and Kidrobot collaboration prints, sold through the Shopify store and gallery partners.
• Sculptures Sculptural editions in bronze, porcelain, fiberglass, and mixed media, including Little Cloud Bronze, Little Buddy porcelain, Space Gem limited edition multiple, and large-scale public fiberglass sculptures.
• Friends Plush Sculptures Hand-sewn plush collectible sculptures conceived as enchanted amulets bringing self-empowerment, representing characters drawn from imaginary microbes.
• FRIEND Fashion Brand Conceptual fashion brand of amulets and apparel launched in 2024 with the purpose of distinguishing a good human or friend, designed as conceptual art objects that bring luck and connection.
• Fashion Brand Collaborations Capsule collections co-developed with fashion and lifestyle brands including Moncler (2015), Lacoste (2021), Alice + Olivia (2019), Guess (2021), Hello Kitty / Wish Come True (2010), and J. Balvin (Coachella 2019), distributed through the partner brand's retail channels.
• Toy & Collectible Brand Collaborations Licensed collectible figures, prints, and plush produced in partnership with toy and collectible companies including Kidrobot (since 2009), Mattel Creations (Lucky Little Cloud, 2022), and Lladro (2014).
• Home Goods & Objects Limited edition homeware and collectible objects including Little Cloud Lamp, Little Cloud Vase, Buddy Chub Cookie Jar, Lucky Coin amulet, and porcelain objects.
• Immersive Installations & Experiential Events Site-specific immersive installations and performances such as Cloud City (MOCA North Miami, 2005), Rainbow City (2010-2019 traveling), Light Cave (Standard High Line, 2014), Nature's Gift (Oakland Museum, 2017), and the Optimal Vibration Alignment performance at MOCA (2024).

Quantifiable outcome

• 30-foot inflatable in Macy's Thanksgiving Day Parade, reaching millions of viewers nationally
• +3 more outcomes

Named customers25 records

Segments5 records

Ideal customer profiles5 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Feature4 records

Partnerships

20 partnerships are on record, tiered flagship, core, major and notable.

• MOCA (Museum of Contemporary Art) Los AngelesflagshipStrategic or Co-development PartnerStrategic partnership for FRIEND brand launch event in March 2024 featuring Optimal Vibration Alignment performance by James Fauntleroy. MOCA hosted exclusive introductory ceremony at Grand Avenue Ahmanson Theatre.
• Nanzuka Gallery / Nanzuka UndergroundcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerOngoing partnership for exhibitions in Japan including Ocean - Temple of the Sacred Heart at PARCO Museum (2024), Little Cloud bronze at Nanzuka 2G Gallery (2020), and Art Basel Hong Kong booth.
• James FauntleroycoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerCollaboration on Optimal Vibration Alignment project - Fauntleroy composed vibrational frequencies for healing performance at MOCA, combining music and art.
• MonclermajorOEM/ Whitelabel/ Licensing PartnerFriendsWithYou Moncler Collection fashion collaboration in 2015, featuring apparel and accessories with FriendsWithYou designs.
• LacostemajorOEM/ Whitelabel/ Licensing PartnerFriendsWithYou Lacoste Capsule Collection collaboration in 2021, featuring clothing and accessories.
• Alice + OliviamajorOEM/ Whitelabel/ Licensing PartnerFWY Alice + Olivia Capsule Collection collaboration in 2019.
• GuessmajorOEM/ Whitelabel/ Licensing PartnerFWY Guess Collection fashion collaboration in 2021.
• KidrobotcoreOEM/ Whitelabel/ Licensing PartnerLongstanding partnership since 2009 including FriendsWithYou Prints series (edition of 700 total) and toys, sold at Kidrobot boutiques.
• Mattel CreationsmajorOEM/ Whitelabel/ Licensing PartnerLucky Little Cloud collaboration with Mattel Creations in 2022.
• J. BalvinnotableStrategic or Co-development PartnerArtist collaboration at Coachella 2019 featuring installations and experiential elements.
• Galerie Emmanuel PerrotincoreChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorGuild exhibition in 2007, curated by Daniel Arsham, featuring aluminum talismans and inflatable sculptures.
• The Hole GallerycoreChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorOngoing gallery partner for exhibitions including Playworks: Forever & Ever Bronze Series (2018) and Storage Wars (2023).
• Sanrio (Hello Kitty / Wish Come True)notableOEM/ Whitelabel/ Licensing PartnerHello Kitty x Wish Come True collaboration in 2010 featuring Mr. TTT designs.
• CASETiFYnotableOEM/ Whitelabel/ Licensing PartnerPhone case collaboration in 2023 featuring FriendsWithYou designs on tech accessories.
• LladronotableOEM/ Whitelabel/ Licensing PartnerSculpture collaboration with luxury porcelain brand Lladro in 2014.
• PARCO Museum TokyocoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerOcean - Temple of the Sacred Heart exhibition in 2024, presented with Nanzuka.
• Philadelphia Navy Yard / Group XcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerSeventh annual collaboration in 2024 for Seated Little Cloud installation at Crescent Park. Ongoing partnership bringing accessible art to the community.
• Library Street CollectivenotableChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorRainbow City Roller Rink exhibition in Detroit in 2018.
• Art Production FundnotableStrategic or Co-development PartnerCollaboration on Little Cloud public sculpture at The Street Chestnut Hill (2017-2018).
• Seattle Art MuseumflagshipStrategic or Co-development PartnerLittle Cloud Sky exhibition scheduled for 2025 at Seattle Art Museum.

Scale indicators5 records

Recent moves6 records

Expansion highlights5 records

Direct peers

• Studio Job: Dutch design studio producing collectible design objects, limited edition sculpture, and branded product lines. Comparable as a multi-disciplinary art/design studio monetizing a recognizable visual language through editions and collaborations.
• KAWS: Brian Donnelly's contemporary art practice producing collectible vinyl figures, plush toys, fashion collaborations (Dior, Uniqlo, Jordan), and large-scale public sculptures. Directly comparable to FriendsWithYou in product mix, IP-led licensing model, and crossover into mainstream brand partnerships.
• Yayoi Kusama: Iconic artist known for immersive installations (Infinity Rooms), brand collaborations (Louis Vuitton), and high-volume collectibles. Comparable to FriendsWithYou's combination of signature immersive installations, licensed merchandise, and recurring museum-level exhibitions.
• Shepard Fairey (OBEY): Street art pioneer behind the OBEY Clothing brand and the iconic 'Hope' image, with extensive brand collaborations and limited edition print sales. Comparable as a character/brand-driven art practice crossing into apparel, prints, and licensed merchandise.
• Daniel Arsham: Contemporary artist working across sculpture, installation, and limited edition product (Bronze Age), with fashion and brand collaborations (Adidas, Porsche). Directly comparable as an artist who has curated FriendsWithYou shows (Galerie Perrotin, 2007) and shares a similar IP/product hybrid model.
• Takashi Murakami: Japanese contemporary artist with a multi-decade IP library (Superflat), recurring luxury and streetwear collaborations (Louis Vuitton, Vans, Supreme), limited edition collectibles, and global museum exhibitions. Closely comparable business model of monetizing character IP across art, fashion, and merchandise.
• Hebru Brantley: Chicago-based contemporary artist with a whimsical pop aesthetic, character-driven IP (Flyboy), and notable fashion/brand collaborations (Nike, H&M, Puma). Comparable in narrative-driven character IP, limited edition prints, and crossover into consumer brand deals.
• Tom Sachs: Contemporary artist producing sculpture, branded collaborations (NikeCraft), and immersive installations. Comparable as an artist-led practice with a distinctive visual IP, recurring museum exhibitions, and recurring consumer product collaborations.

Broad incumbents

• Jeff Koons: Established blue-chip contemporary artist with luxury collaborations (Louis Vuitton, BMW), large-scale public sculptures, and museum exhibitions. Comparable as a brand-collaboration-driven contemporary art practice, though operating at a much larger scale and price point.

Emerging players

• Kasing Lung: Hong Kong-based artist/designer known for collectible 'Dioramatic' figurines and brand collaborations (Pop Mart). Comparable as a character-driven designer-toy artist with crossover limited editions and an emerging global collector base, though at smaller scale and shorter track record.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat4 records

Key risks6 records

Key highlights7 records

Customer concentration

• Xx.com/Friendswithyou
• Facebookfacebook.com/friendswithyou
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/friendswithyou

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles2 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 FriendsWithYou