ADVOCARTSY

What ADVOCARTSY does

ADVOCARTSY is a Los Angeles-based contemporary art gallery and curatorial platform that exclusively focuses on Iranian and Iranian-diaspora artists. Founded and directed by Roshi Rahnama, the company operates two physical gallery locations — a West Hollywood space at 434 N. La Cienega Blvd and a newly inaugurated Downtown LA gallery at 711 E 9th Place, Suite A (opened 2025-2026) — and represents a roster of more than 30 artists including internationally recognized names such as Mohammad Barrangi (known for reverse-transfer printmaking on canvas and handmade paper), Tahmineh Javanbakht (mirror-based āyeneh-kāri works), Nicky Nodjoumi (political-satirical figurative oil painting), Parastou Forouhar, Pouya Afshar, Dariush Nehdaran, and Taravat Talepasand. The gallery's artists are held in permanent collections of major institutions including LACMA, the British Museum, the Metropolitan Museum of Art, the Guggenheim Abu Dhabi, the San Diego Museum of Art, MoMA (via Artecnica), the Salsali Private Museum (Dubai), and DeYoung. ADVOCARTSY has facilitated several high-profile live installations at LACMA (2022), British Museum (2019), and San Diego Museum of Art (2023), often in partnership with Farhang Foundation, and has organized solo and group exhibitions such as 'The Conference of the Birds' (2020-2021), 'Dreamscape' (2022), 'Let's Talk' (2023-2024), 'VINTAGE MODERN 2024,' and 'PORTRAITURE NOW.' The company also maintains an active social presence (Instagram, Facebook, LinkedIn, YouTube) and an email-newsletter channel at [email protected].

The business model combines (a) one-time direct artwork sales to individual and institutional collectors conducted through an inquiry-based pricing system (pricing not publicly disclosed; available works are quoted via email) and (b) commissions earned as the representing gallery on artist sales. Distribution occurs exclusively through physical gallery visits, art-fair participation (notably ZONAMACO in Mexico City), and direct email correspondence — the gallery does not operate an e-commerce storefront, despite the website's 'Store' menu item. ADVOCARTSY is privately held, organized as ADVOCARTSY LLC in California, employs 1-10 people, has no parent company or outside institutional investors, has not raised any funding rounds, and does not disclose revenue. Its revenue mechanics are inherently lumpy — concentrated in occasional high-value primary sales to museums and a relatively small pool of repeat collectors — rather than recurring subscription or SaaS revenue.

Name

ADVOCARTSY

Legal name

ADVOCARTSY

Website

https://advocartsy.com

Company type

Private

Founded year

2015

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

1–10 employees

Short description

ADVOCARTSY is a privately held Los Angeles boutique gallery representing 30+ Iranian and Iranian-diaspora contemporary artists through two physical LA locations (West Hollywood and Downtown LA), serving collectors and major museums such as LACMA, the British Museum, and the Metropolitan Museum of Art through commission-based artwork sales.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Headquarters

HQ city

Los Angeles

HQ country

United States

HQ region

North America

Offices3 records

Markets served

GTM type

B2C

Offering type

Services

Cost components

Personnel, Operations, Marketing or Sales, Others

Revenue model

1. Artwork Sales: Primary revenue from selling contemporary Iranian artworks directly to collectors through gallery exhibitions and art fairs. Works are priced individually and sold via inquiry system with email contact for each piece.
2. Commission from Artists: Gallery operates on commission basis representing artists and taking percentage on sales of their works

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion1 record

Distribution channels4 records

Marketing channels8 records

Core offering

ADVOCARTSY is a Los Angeles-based contemporary art gallery that presents exhibitions, events, and direct sales of artworks by Iranian and Iranian-American artists. The gallery operates two physical locations (West Hollywood and Downtown LA) and represents more than 30 artists, selling individual works to collectors and institutions through an email-inquiry model and through art fair participation.

Product overview

ADVOCARTSY is a Los Angeles-based art gallery specializing in Iranian contemporary art. The gallery does not offer a technology product or software platform—it operates as a traditional art gallery providing exhibition spaces, art sales, and artist representation services. The gallery showcases works by Iranian and Iranian-origin artists through rotating exhibitions, group shows, and solo presentations at its West Hollywood and Downtown Los Angeles locations.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Products and services

• Gallery Exhibitions Program Rotating program of solo and group exhibitions of Iranian contemporary art held at ADVOCARTSY's West Hollywood and Downtown LA galleries, presented to collectors, museums, and the public through opening receptions and run dates.
• Artist Representation Services Ongoing gallery representation of more than 30 Iranian and Iranian-American artists, including exhibition opportunities, sales on commission, international art fair exposure, and institutional introductions to museums.

Quantifiable outcome

• Artists' works acquired by major international museums including LACMA, British Museum, Metropolitan Museum, and Guggenheim Abu Dhabi
• +1 more outcomes

Named customers10 records

Segments3 records

Ideal customer profiles2 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Feature3 records

Partnerships

Seven partnerships are on record, tiered core, major and minor.

• San Diego Museum of ArtcoreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 4 October 2023Hosted Mohammad Barrangi's three-day live installation demonstration of reverse print transfer process. The museum acquired Barrangi's work 'Migration' (2018) for their collection in 2021. Presented as an Art + Empathy event in partnership with Farhang Foundation and Persian Cultural Center.
• Los Angeles County Museum of Art (LACMA)coreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 16 September 2022LACMA hosted Mohammad Barrangi's live mural installation 'Simorgh' based on 'The Conference of the Birds' in September 2022. Gallery founder Roshi Rahnama expressed appreciation to Dr. Linda Komaroff for commitment to expanding dialogue around Iranian art. LACMA has acquired works by Barrangi for permanent collection.
• Farhang FoundationmajorStrategic or Co-development Partner · 16 September 2022Cultural partner for the San Diego Museum of Art's Art + Empathy event featuring Mohammad Barrangi's live installation. Farhang Foundation supports Iranian cultural programming.
• Persian Cultural Center, San DiegominorStrategic or Co-development Partner · 16 September 2022Cultural partner for Mohammad Barrangi's live installation at San Diego Museum of Art.
• YOUniversal CenterminorStrategic or Co-development Partner · 14 November 2020Non-profit organization founded by Omid Arabian that created video synopsis of 'The Conference of the Birds' exhibition, narrated at ADVOCARTSY's gallery. Dedicated to exploring Persian philosophy-poets Rumi, Hafez, and Attar.
• British MuseumcoreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 September 2019Hosted Mohammad Barrangi's live mural installation 'Looking East' in the Grand Hall. Two of Barrangi's works have been acquired by the British Museum for permanent collection.
• Moms Against Poverty (MAP)majorStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 December 2018Official community and fundraising partner for ART BRIEF IV exhibition. MAP is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit supporting underprivileged children in Iran, the US, and globally. Ten percent of net sales during ART BRIEF IV donated to MAP.

Scale indicators4 records

Recent moves7 records

Expansion highlights4 records

Direct peers

• Leila Heller Gallery: New York–based gallery specializing in modern and contemporary Middle Eastern and Iranian art. Direct peer with strong institutional and collector relationships in the same niche as ADVOCARTSY.
• Taymour Grahne Gallery: Gallery focused on contemporary art from the SWANA region and diaspora, with spaces in New York and London. Direct peer in the Middle Eastern contemporary art niche and represents comparable emerging-to-mid-career artists.
• Homa Gallery: Iranian-American contemporary art gallery based in Los Angeles. Direct peer — operates in the same niche of Iranian contemporary art and represents overlapping artists, including Iranian diaspora talent.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat4 records

Customer concentration

• YouTubeyoutube.com/channel/UC6INpuLpuyLPYtIOEa2iihQ
• Facebookfacebook.com/advocartsy
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/advocartsy
• Instagraminstagram.com/advocartsy

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles1 record

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 ADVOCARTSY