Jump to content

Draft:Art Partner

From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
  • Comment: "Artists" is unreferenced. A reference for each, please.
    At the other extreme, the one sentence In 2025, the Prize was presented at the Vatican’s Borgo Laudato Si’, featuring 55 works from past editions in dialogue with Pope Francis’ vision of integral ecology comes with seven references. Why so many? (See Wikipedia:Citation overkill.) -- Hoary (talk) 07:23, 11 October 2025 (UTC)
  • Comment: In accordance with the Wikimedia Foundation's Terms of Use, I disclose that I have been paid by my employer for my contributions to this article. CurioArchivist85 (talk) 10:57, 9 October 2025 (UTC)


Response from CurioArchivist85: Thank you for the feedback, Hoary. I’ve now added reliable sources for each artist and adjusted the references throughout to address citation overkill. @Hoary: – I’d be grateful if you could review the updated draft when you have the time. CurioArchivist85 (talk) 15:08, 15 October 2025 (UTC)


Art Partner
IndustryFashion, Luxury
Founded1992
FounderGiovanni Testino
HeadquartersNew York, United States
Key people
Amber Olsen Testino, Candice Marks, Brigitte Sondag
Websiteartpartner.com

Art Partner is an international creative agency specializing in the fashion, luxury, and beauty sectors.[1] Founded in 1992, the agency operates offices in London, Paris, Milan, New York, and Shanghai, and represents a global roster of creative talent.[2] Art Partner works with global fashion and luxury brands such as Prada, Miu Miu, Saint Laurent, Gucci, Calvin Klein, and Zara, as well as editorial publications including Vogue, Harper’s Bazaar, The Gentlewoman, Dazed, i-D, and Self Service. The agency offers services including artist representation, creative direction, brand strategy, content production, cultural programming, and consulting.[2]

History

[edit]

Art Partner was founded in 1992 by Giovanni Testino and his brother, fashion photographer Mario Testino.[1] Prior to establishing the agency, Giovanni Testino worked in the shipping industry during the 1980s, gaining experience in logistics and operations.[2] The concept for the agency emerged following a chance meeting between the brothers in Los Angeles.[1] With initial backing from Yasuko Austin, the brothers launched Art Partner in New York.[2]

By the mid-1990s, Art Partner represented photographers including Mario Testino, Mert Alas & Marcus Piggott, Glen Luchford, and Steven Klein, along with stylists such as Camilla Nickerson and Melanie Ward, and beauty creatives like Charlotte Tilbury and Didier Malige.[2] In the late 1990s, senior agent Amber Olsen Testino opened a liaison office in Paris, marking the agency’s first formal expansion beyond New York.

During the 2000s, Art Partner broadened its services to include creative direction, styling, hair and makeup representation, and in-house content strategy and production. It later opened offices in London, positioning itself as a key talent and creative consultancy for global fashion and luxury brands.[2] The agency continued to work with major fashion houses and editorial publications worldwide.[3]

Artists

[edit]

Art Partner represents a roster of internationally recognised photographers whose work has significantly influenced contemporary fashion imagery. Among its represented artists are David Sims, Mario Sorrenti, and Mert Alas & Marcus Piggott, figures widely credited with shaping the visual language of luxury advertising and editorial photography since the 1990s.[4][5] A younger generation of image-makers, including Harley Weir, Tyler Mitchell and Drew Vickers reflect the agency’s continued engagement with emerging voices in fashion and culture. Their work is noted for its intimate, socially conscious, and multidisciplinary approach, bridging fine art and commercial practice.[6][7] In addition to photographers, Art Partner represents talent across related creative fields, including styling, creative direction, beauty, casting as well as a cultural architect division dedicated exclusively to Hans Ulrich Obrist.

Earth Partner

[edit]

Earth Partner is the sustainability division of Art Partner, established to advance environmentally responsible practices across the agency's operations and creative projects.[8] Certified Carbon Neutral® since 2017, the division promotes sustainable production on set and in offices across New York, London, and Paris.Earth Partner also supports creative climate action through year-round initiatives and partnerships with artists, policymakers, businesses, and organisations.[9][10] Supported by Marina Testino, its notable partners include the United Nations, GEF, World Land Trust, Flourishing Diversity, and the Ellen MacArthur Foundation.[11][12][13]

Its flagship program, the Earth Partner Prize (previously #CreateCOP), is an international competition inviting young creatives to address environmental and social challenges through any artistic medium.[10] Eight finalists receive cash prizes of $10,000, $5,000, or $2,000.[14][15] Past judges include Anja Rubik, Marcelo Vieira da Silva Junior, Gabriela Hearst, Livia Firth, Francisco Costa, Wilson Oryema, Dr. Subodh Kerkar, and Lidia Arthur Brito. The initiative has been covered in publications such as Vogue, the Financial Times, Document Journal, Atmos, and Fast Company.[16][17] Its finalists’ works have been exhibited globally at events including the United Nations, Photo London, and Shanghai Climate Week.[18][19] In 2025, the Prize was presented at the Vatican’s Borgo Laudato Si’, featuring 55 works from past editions in dialogue with Pope Francis' vision of integral ecology.[20][21]

References

[edit]
  1. ^ a b c "Giovanni Testino & Hans Ulrich Obrist". D La Repubblica. 2025-06-19. Retrieved 2025-10-07.
  2. ^ a b c d e f "I live 100% for the deal". System Magazine. 2016. Retrieved 2025-10-07.
  3. ^ "Trunk Archive and Art Partner Unite in New Alliance". WWD. 2024-02-21. Retrieved 2025-10-07.
  4. ^ "Madonna, Kate Moss, and More Mingle at the Mert and Marcus Exhibition in London". Vogue. 2016-10-28. Retrieved 2025-11-12.
  5. ^ "Legendary photographer Mario Sorrenti strips things back for Theory". Dazed. 2022-04-30. Retrieved 2025-11-12.
  6. ^ "Photographer Tyler Mitchell's New York Exhibition Is Pop Culture's Wake Up Call". Vogue. 2020-01-31. Retrieved 2025-11-12.
  7. ^ "Prada 'Seditious Simplicity' Resort 2020 Ad Campaign by Keizo Kitajima and Drew Vickers". The Impression. 2019-11-14. Retrieved 2025-11-12.
  8. ^ "Art Partner launches open call for CreateCOP29 Submissions in Support of Climate Justice". New Wave Magazine. 2024-10-25. Retrieved 2025-10-07.
  9. ^ "Meet the next generation of climate storytellers". Atmos. 2023-12-04. Retrieved 2025-10-07.
  10. ^ a b "The Impact Review: Art Partner's CreateCOP28 Winners 2023". Sleek Magazine. 2023-12-05. Retrieved 2025-10-07.
  11. ^ "Art Partner Open Call". Vogue. 2019-10-10. Retrieved 2025-10-07.
  12. ^ "Art Partner launches CreateCOP28, an open call focused on climate justice". Vogue. 2023-07-03. Retrieved 2025-10-07.
  13. ^ "GEF x Earth Partner: Youth Creativity in the Spotlight". GEF. 2025-08-29. Retrieved 2025-10-07.
  14. ^ "Art Partner unveils the 2025 Earth Partner Prize". Vogue. 2025-06-21. Retrieved 2025-10-07.
  15. ^ "CreateCOP29: Art Partner announces 2024 open call". Vogue. 2024-08-06. Retrieved 2025-10-07.
  16. ^ "Art to save the planet: the #CreateCOP prize returns". Financial Times. 2023-06-23. Retrieved 2025-10-07.
  17. ^ "At Art Partner's #CreateCOP27 competition, creatives make the global climate emergency personal". Document Journal. 2022-11-16. Retrieved 2025-10-07.
  18. ^ "The Impact Review: Art Partner's #CreateCOP28". Sleek Magazine. 2023-10-03. Retrieved 2025-10-07.
  19. ^ "Createcop: Impact of Climate Crisis". ArtDoc. 2024-05-15. Retrieved 2025-10-07.
  20. ^ "Earth Partner Exhibition in Rome: The Photography Exhibition That Raises Consciences". Vogue Italia. 2025-09-10. Retrieved 2025-10-07.
  21. ^ "Interview with Amber Olson Testino: "What Can Make a Difference"". D La Repubblica. 2025-08-30. Retrieved 2025-10-07.