ABOUT US

THE STORY OF MAPA begins – as many good stories do – with two friends. In 2020, a turbulent year for the world, we saw our artistic peers grappling to find audiences; meanwhile, a host of art lovers and collectors were confined to their homes.
 
IT WAS TIME FOR A CHANGE, we decided. Time to spice up the traditional gallery model, to connect both young and experienced art aficionados with promising, emerging artists. Soon, MAPA was born.
 
AT MAPA, WE BELIEVE every artwork has its own story, which resonates with you for its own reasons. We also believe artists deserve fair compensation for these works, and buyers deserve an accessible and transparent way to purchase art.
 
MAPA IS NOMADIC. Our gallery mixes the digital and physical, offering handpicked artworks both online and in pop-up shows in select European cities. In the past two years, we've hosted several group and solo shows in London and Amsterdam (including an LGBTQ+ show at law firm Clifford Chance). We are proud to have represented close to 40 international artists so far, and are constantly building our network of promising artists and enthusiastic collectors. 

FOUNDERS

Paul Makarov (right) is British-Latvian and lives in the Netherlands, although he can often be found in London. He has a background in business, brand marketing, networking and communication, and founded MAPA because he wanted to create an ethical business that helps young artists get ahead.
 
Marek Sustak (left) was born in the Czech Republic and moved around the world before settling in the Netherlands. He met Paul while living in Latvia, and has an education in business and economics. He founded MAPA to build an innovative new gallery and surround himself with creative people.