PRESS RELEASE:
Twyla Raises over $19 Million in Funding Led by GV
AUSTIN, Texas–(BUSINESS WIRE)–October 6, 2016–
Twyla is a new way to discover and buy art, offering consumers a seamless experience and access to limited-edition artworks by leading contemporary artists. The company collaborates with artists to create exclusive prints at a fraction of the price of their original pieces. Now, a new generation of art lovers may easily purchase highly curated art from rising stars of the contemporary art world in an approachable way.
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Featuring CORRIDORS #7 by Twyla Artist Amir Guberstein (Photo: Business Wire)
In order to enable buyers to experience the quality and beauty of the art in person, Twyla pieces are featured at select “showrooms” including boutique hotels and venues across the country such as South Congress Hotel in Austin and Soho House West Hollywood.
Twyla searches the globe for contemporary art and then works directly with 80+ artists to create a curated collection of over 300 exquisitely framed pieces, which range from $1,000-$5,000. Artists include Miya Ando, Travis Boyer, Guy Dill and Kristen Schiele. Artists on Twyla have shown at the most influential museums and galleries worldwide, including Whitney Museum of American Art, The Guggenheim, LACMA, MoMA, Gagosian Gallery, Musée d’Art Moderne de la Ville de Paris and Palais de Tokyo. Twyla’s limited-edition licensing model provides artists with an incremental revenue stream and exposure to a wider audience.
“We started Twyla after experiencing firsthand how frustrating it can be to buy art,” said Matt Randall, co-founder and CEO of Twyla. “Artists are stifled by seller limitations, while consumers are expected to expertly navigate the complicated, opaque world of art buying. The artists are selected by the Twyla collective, which is composed of our experienced curators and creatives, that identifies what’s now, next and perfectly suited to Twyla’s clients’ tastes.”
From first search to finishing touch, Twyla focuses on every detail of the client experience. On Twyla.com buyers may search and filter the works by artist, themes (ranging from landscape to geometric, street art to pop art), color or size of the work. Each edition comes with a custom frame chosen by the artist, a signed and numbered certificate of authenticity and is shipped in sleek packaging. A welcome kit with the essentials needed to hang the art in a matter of minutes arrives prior to the art, while Twyla clients living in 12 U.S. cities and counting may opt to have their artwork installed by a professional art handler.
Twyla’s board of directors includes HomeAway co-founder and chairman Brian Sharples, who is a Twyla co-founder and serves as chairman of the board; David Krane, CEO of GV (formerly Google Ventures) and board member; art community veteran and former president of Christie’s Doug Woodham and CEO of The Standard Hotels International Amar Lalvani. Twyla has raised over $19 million led by GV and joined by IVP and Redpoint Ventures.
“There’s a huge gap in the art buying market between posters and Picassos,” said David Krane, CEO of GV and Twyla board member. “Twyla fills that void, finally speaking to a new generation of buyers who want to invest in art they love at a price they can afford.”
About Twyla
Twyla is on a mission to change the way a new generation experiences and buys art. It connects people to a seamless art buying experience and provides access to exclusive works by leading contemporary artists online and at select showrooms. Twyla offers exclusive limited-edition works at a fraction of the price of original pieces. Careful attention is paid to each detail, every step of the way-from online to home installation. Twyla is backed by GV, Redpoint Ventures and IVP. Twyla calls its hometown Austin, Texas.
Discover Twyla and Edition T (Twyla’s one-stop shop lifestyle destination that stands at the crossroads of art and culture) at https://www.twyla.com/.
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Twyla
Eileen Buesing, 512-825-6403
Ebuesing@twyla.com