Our Story, Words From The Founder
Docent's mission to make art collecting an inspiring journey for more people comes in a post-pandemic world, at a time when the art market is undergoing significant changes. As more collectors turn to the internet to browse, discover and acquire art, the traditional brick and mortar galleries are struggling to keep up. In this context, Docent's platform is timely in bridging the gap between art collectors and the contemporary art scene.
Moreover, Docent's technology has the potential to support the art market by creating a more transparent, accessible, and sustainable art ecosystem. By leveraging AI and data science, Docent can help art collectors make informed decisions and empower galleries to reach a wider audience.
“DOCENT'S IMPACT ON THE ART WORLD GOES BEYOND DIGITAL TRANSFORMATION. BY SUPPORTING EMERGING TO ESTABLISHED ARTISTS AND GALLERIES, THE PLATFORM CAN CREATE A POSITIVE RIPPLE EFFECT THROUGHOUT THE ART SCENE, FOSTERING CREATIVITY, INNOVATION, AND INCLUSIVITY.”
As a life-long art lover and collector, sharing my passion on a global scale became a priority during the 2020 pandemic. While collecting art individually had been fulfilling, the audience was limited. Opening a gallery 10 years earlier had definitely been a step forward, but still felt circumscribed. That's where Docent made sense.
To bring the vision to life, I collaborated with Mathieu Rosenbaum, a multi-awarded mathematician, professor at Ecole Polytechnique in Paris. Together, we blended our expertise in art and data science to create a "Spotify”-like platform for art enthusiasts and collectors. Docent started with 100 founding gallery members, offering an unparalleled selection of artworks and artists meticulously curated from galleries spanning 30 countries and 5 continents. All our artists have exhibited at top-tier venues worldwide. Our platform provides a varied and dynamic selection of works that truly reflects the richness and diversity of the art world, thanks to partnerships we foster with galleries that function as incubators in their respective regions, actively shaping the art scene of tomorrow.
”UNLIKE OTHER ALGORITHMS, DOCENT DOESN'T CONFINE USERS WITHIN THEIR OWN ECHO CHAMBER; INSTEAD, IT INVITES THEM TO DISCOVER ART BEYOND IT.
THE CONTEMPORARY ART ECOSYSTEM IS CONTINUALLY EXPANDING IN A MYRIAD OF WAYS, WITH EXPONENTIAL GROWTH IN THE DIGITAL SPACE. OUR ULTIMATE GOAL IS TO CREATE A VIRTUOUS CYCLE IN THE ART MARKET BY EMPOWERING EXISTING COLLECTORS, HELPING A NEW GENERATION OF COLLECTORS ARISE, BRINGING GALLERIES AND ARTISTS MORE REVENUE, AND SUPPORTING CREATION”.
Cut Out The Noise
Eliminate Bias And Embrace Diversity
Designed For And Transformed By Our Community
The Team
Founder and CEO of Docent, Helene Nguyen-Ban’s first foray into contemporary art as a collector was driven by the same curiosity and passion that would later chart her path as an esteemed gallerist and a start-up founder: she brings years of expert insight and research from the field as well as a boundless passion for innovation in art. On top of her current role at Docent, she sits on the International Council of Tate, the Asia-Pacific Committee at Centre Pompidou, Palais de Tokyo, and the AWARE Prize jury, and serves as Chair of the board of Fluxus Art Projects. She supports cutting-edge companies in the sectors of health, education, and sustainability, leveraging technology for real-world change.
Mathieu Rosenbaum is a professor in Applied Mathematics and acting Chair in Machine Learning and Systematic Methods at Ecole Polytechnique in Paris. His research spans health, sports, finance, and the arts. He received the European Research Council Grant in 2015, the Louis Bachelier Prize in 2020 and the Quant of the Year award in 2021, for outstanding contributions within the field of Applied Mathematics. As Chief Scientific Officer of Docent, Mathieu applies scientific knowledge to art, providing personalized recommendations, eliminating biases, and connecting users with art they will genuinely love.
Our Background
Our Artists
Our Galleries
Institutional Partners
Curatorial Partners
Goldsmiths Centre for Contemporary Art is a dynamic and forward-thinking institution dedicated to contemporary arts. With a bold curatorial approach, the exhibition program showcases a diverse range of artistic expressions, embracing new commissions, historical presentations, survey exhibitions, and long-term research projects. The presentations are carefully tailored to the unique spaces of the institution, ranging from top-lit white cubes to a converted iron-lined Victorian water tank.
Goldsmiths offers insightful artist biographies exclusively crafted for Docent. This collaboration showcases our shared commitment to enriching the art experience and fostering emerging talent.
Established in 1994, Gasworks is a non-profit organization working at the forefront of contemporary visual art to foster a vibrant exchange between UK and international artistic practices and dialogues. Gasworks provides studios for London-based artists, commissions emerging UK-based and international artists to present their first major exhibitions in the UK. These residencies serve as invaluable platforms for foreign artists to conduct research, cultivate ideas, and develop new works. Gasworks takes center stage on Docent’s home page with a special emphasis on artist videos.
V.O Curations is an arts organization committed to supporting emerging and underrepresented artists through an innovative and critically-engaged program. Founded in 2018 by the visionary duo of Zina Vieille and Nnamdi Obiekwe, V.O Curations firmly believes that the act of curation encompasses every facet of their comprehensive program, including residencies, exhibitions, events, publications, and studio spaces, all executed with utmost care and thoughtfulness. V.O Curations strives to create an inclusive space encouraging critical dialogue and artistic exploration, promoting the perspectives that have historically been marginalized. They work to make a lasting impact on the art world by amplifying the voices of emerging talents and fostering a vibrant and inclusive artistic ecosystem.
By sharing their works on the platform, V.O Curations extends the opportunity for art enthusiasts to discover and even acquire select artworks via Docent.
Archives of Women Artists, Research and Exhibitions (AWARE) is a non-profit organization, established in 2014 and led by curator and art historian, Camille Morineau, known for her expertise in women artists. At the core of AWARE's mission lies a profound aspiration—to rectify the historical imbalances within the art world and rewrite the narrative of art history by placing women artists on an equal pedestal alongside their male counterparts. For far too long, their invaluable contributions have been overlooked, and it is high time to bring their works into the spotlight. Through extensive research, rigorous exhibitions, and comprehensive documentation, AWARE strives to amplify the voices and narratives of women artists, forging a path towards a future where artistic excellence knows no gender boundaries.
AWARE and Docent collaborate seamlessly to showcase the works of women artists on the app. This partnership reflects our shared commitment to promoting inclusivity and rewriting the narrative of art history.
Radicants is an international curatorial cooperative, collaborating with a network of independent professionals. With a profound passion for the arts, they conceive, produce, and curate art exhibitions and offer expert advisory services to support and guide curatorial projects or programs. Nestled in the heart of Paris, Radicants maintains a permanent exhibition space for emerging and established artists to showcase their work, serving as a dynamic hub for artistic expression and cultural engagement. Radicants strives to push boundaries and challenge traditional artistic paradigms.
Radicants’ expertise in curatorial practice shines through as they offer valuable advice and curatorial highlights. This collaboration ensures that users of the app benefit from curated insights and a deeper understanding of the artistic vision behind the showcased works.
Press
The contemporary art ecosystem is continually expanding in a myriad of ways, with exponential growth in the digital space. Docent’s ultimate goal is to create a virtuous cycle in the art market by empowering existing collectors, helping a new generation of collectors arise, bringing galleries and artists more revenue, and supporting creation.
We hope to make art collecting an inspiring journey for more people.
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