The Los Angeles Art Company

Los Angeles Art Company or laartco. Our primary mission is to provide museum-quality fine art installation services. We have honed our craft over many years working in museums, galleries, and foundations, as well as for interior designers and private and corporate collectors. At laartco we are artists and artisans of many disciplines and crafts, and we carry our attention to detail and care for the objects we handle through into everything we do.

We believe that a proper presentation and skillful installation elevates the art and the space within which it rests.

In addition to arranging, and securely installing your fine art and other precious items, we offer a variety of related fine art- and design-related services, to help make your relationship with fine art a more rewarding and seamless experience. If you have any questions, or concerns, or require other services related to the visual arts, please do not hesitate to inquire.

Please consider us for all your installation needs.

Chad Petersen is a Los Angeles transplant, originally from Oklahoma City. He received his BFA from Otis College of Art and Design in 2002, and he has been making paintings and installing fine art and objects ever since. Chad has worked in the exhibitions departments at the Museum of Contemporary Art, Los Angeles, and UCLA’s Armand Hammer Museum. He was also an integral part of a small team of highly skilled preparators and conservators commissioned to inventory, conserve, and implement proper handling, storage, and cataloging systems for the vast collection of art and artifacts housed in the Southwestern Museum of the American Indian before its recent renovation by the Autry Museum. In addition, Chad has worked for the Broad Art Foundation, the Broad’s private collection, and galleries too numerous to name. Throughout his time with these institutions, Chad has maintained relationships with a wonderful group of interior designers and private individuals who have allowed him to serve their diverse needs on a regular basis. It has ultimately been these relationships that have provided the backbone of regular clientele that eventually became The Los Angeles Art Company.

Dakota Witzenburg is a Los Angeleno originally from Iowa whose education in fine art began at Linfield College in Oregon. After graduating with a bachelors degree in art, a couple of random minors, and a major stack of vinyl records, he continued his education by moving south to acquire an MFA from the University of Southern California. Focusing on sculpture, he developed his woodworking skills by making logs, small houses, and things to sit on. After graduation, Dakota took a position at Ace Gallery in Los Angeles as the full-time chief preparator of exhibitions, in charge of handling and installing the extensive collection. During this time, Dakota continued fabricating art and furniture in his backyard/garage shop for professional artists, designers, and galleries. Becoming too busy to do both, Dakota opted for the latter and started todosomething, a custom fabrication business. In addition to fabricating, Dakota maintained a group of art installation customers, installing in galleries, homes, and occasional art fairs throughout the country. He often ran into his future partner Chad; they worked together on their respective commissions, and eventually became full-time partners in 2007.

Art Installation

At laartco we specialize in the craft of museum-quality art installation, with first class design and presentation. Although we have spent plenty of time working in several of this great city’s finest institutions of art and artifacts, we have focused the last several years on serving many extraordinary interior designers and gallerists, as well as corporate and private collectors’ installation needs. There is no project too large or too small, and we have yet to meet an installation that we couldn’t execute safely and elegantly. Whether it is a single painting over a fireplace, or a collection of framed pieces in a switchback stairway, our design experience and aesthetic eye will assure that your art and space look spectacular and are safely secured for years to come.

Art Furniture / Fabrication

We are also outfitted with fully equipped wood and metal shops for the production of absolutely any kind of custom display furniture or mounting device. We can work in any material and finish, and are extremely skilled and creative in this department. Some of our specialties include barely visible, but completely secure, hardware for delicate works; heavy-duty brackets for large works; and specialty mounts for surfboards, skateboards, and even skulls. Our many years of experience in exhibition preparation of all kinds have honed our abilities to come up with the most suitable, secure and aesthetically pleasing solutions for any scenario.

Transportation

Transporting fine art and objects requires a careful and sympathetic understanding of the nature of the object being handled. While the art handler’s mantra says to treat all objects as if they were priceless, irreplaceable masterpieces, we have found that few fully understand this concept. Although we don’t feature ourselves as transporters, we have been commissioned in the past by our clients to pick up pieces and bring them to their location for installation, or even to pack up entire collections and personally transport them across the country for art fairs or collection relocation. We take handling fine art and objects very seriously, and if you require such services, please call to discuss how we can help meet these special needs.

Creative Services

Our team of art installers and fabricators is comprised of a variable troop of fine artists and artisans, each with their own special expertise. We were educated in local art institutions and have professional associates in all types of related fields. This makes us very well positioned to provide creative services such as mural painting and stenciling, creative space planning, art consultation, conservation and repair, and many other related creative “gigs.” So feel free to discuss other creative projects with us, and if we can’t personally take care of your needs, we will refer you to the right professional for the job.

$85/hr for lead installer*
$75/hr for each additional installer*

*All jobs require a 2-hr minimum. There is an additional cost for hardware with applicable sales tax.

The Los Angeles Art Company services the greater Los Angeles area.
Some areas outside of our 17-mile standard radius may be subject to a 3-hour minimum.
For areas outside of Los Angeles, please call to inquire about rates and availability.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

How many installers are necessary for the job?

Small installations often require only one installer. However installations of large objects, of heavy or awkward pieces, or of collections including lots of pieces may require two or more persons. Please call us so we can ask you a few questions about your installation and determine what is best for your specific installation.

What sort of earthquake-resistant methods do you offer?

We have various types of “security” hardware and are happy to discuss the capabilities of each type and determine the best option to meet your needs. We take security very seriously. We also take presentation very seriously, and earthquake hardware can insure that both bases are covered and that no wall-mounted work ever comes off or out of level unintentionally.

As for securing sculpture, every piece is different. We’ll most likely need to assess the situation in person, and select or design a system that works for both security and for aesthetic purposes.

Will the hardware be visible?

Not usually. Typically our hardware rests anonymously behind the art. In special situations where the hardware must be exposed, we can offer solutions that minimize the hardware’s visual impact on the art. And for those special situations that require custom fabrication of hardware, our goal is always to support the work with minimal visual interference.

Can you install after normal business hours?

Although we try and keep as normal hours as possible, we are willing to work around tricky schedules. Please call us to discuss.

Can you transport the art?

Yes. We tend to focus more on installation but are experienced in transportation of artwork, large and small. In addition, we offer crating services for those who require them. Please call to discuss your situation.

Is LAARTCO insured?

LAARTCO and its installers are covered by a robust insurance policy specifically designed for the special type of work we perform. At LAARTCO we are very serious about protecting you and your valuables. If you would like to hear more about our coverage, or inquire about special arrangements for your specific needs, please don't hesitate to call.

What about your privacy policy?

We have many high profile return customers. We do not share our customer’s information with anyone, period. Anyone and everyone can feel completely comfortable that their address, phone number, billing information, or other personal details will not be discussed with or transferred to anyone, anytime, for any reason.

Do you install other stuff besides art?

Absolutely! Most of our interior designer clients love us for this reason. We are masters at attaching stuff to other stuff! Everything is fair game: mirrors, towel bars, toilet paper holders, coat hooks, wine racks, bicycle hoists, shelves, window planters, whatever! We even have a Class C6 contractor’s license, which means we can install your kitchen cabinets if need be.

What can’t you do?

Installations that are considered unsafe or that run the risk of damaging an artwork or harming an installer are not recommended, and if we deem any situation as such, we will not perform said installation. We are capable of figuring out smart ways to make most situations safe. laartco takes safety very, very seriously.

e-mail:

1322 E. 1st Street
Los Angeles CA 90033