Our mission is to create connections between people and places through the meaningful integration of art with architectural design and the built environment.

Anabella Alfonzo, Aartplace Founder and Lead Art Consultant

About us

Anabella Alfonzo, Founder, Lead Art Consultant & Curator

Anabella Alfonzo founded Aartplace in 2021. Her 20 years of multidisciplinary experience is rooted in her architecture background and informed by her understanding of contemporary art. She has collaborated with a range of professional clients and colleagues – architects, developers, interior and graphic designers, brand specialists, and artists – and has led the curation and delivery of large-scale art programs and collections for clients across North America and Europe.

Our Team

We are a highly capable, multidisciplinary team that expands and contracts according to our project’s needs. We are supported by exceptional professionals in the fields of art curation, design, architecture, urban planning, engineering, community engagement, indigenous relations, among other disciplines. Collectively, we offer a unique combination of cultural understanding, technical know-how, curatorial excellence, and collaborative approach to deliver outstanding art consulting services for projects in private and public places. 

Our Services

Public Art Consulting & Management | Art Curation | Art Strategy | Art Planning | Public Art Masterplanning | Art Collection Curation & Management | Art Commissioning |

Public Art Consulting & Management | Art Curation | Art Strategy | Art Planning | Public Art Masterplanning | Art Collection Curation & Management | Art Commissioning |

Aartplace is committed to delivering services that align with each client’s vision, celebrate the place and its legacy, spark connection and meaning, and elevate the built environment through art.

From initial consultation to final installation, Aartplace curates art programs and collections that incorporate a client’s vision and story and that integrate with the built environment in a meaningful way. Whether working with individual clients or teams of public stakeholders, the studio’s multi-phase process is transparent, collaborative, and rigorous.

Based on the scope and nature of each project, Anabella Alfonzo, Principal Art Consultant, assembles a multi-disciplinary team of professionals who excel who excel in public, private, complex, and large-scale projects.

Our Process

Working closely with clients, artists, project teams, and stakeholder groups, we ensure each project’s vision is maintained throughout all phases while carefully managing teams, budgets, and schedules.

  • Eye drawing on white paper with geometric designs

    1. Discovery & Vision

    We research and analyze your project, vision, and goals.

    We define and strategize how art will support your vision, tell your story, and integrate with your spaces and/or city.

  • Architectural floor plan with labeled art placements. Includes seating arrangements and structural details.

    2. Development & Integration

    We curate, select, and coordinate the procurement of artworks.

    We coordinate and support artists and consultants through the detailed design development process.

  • Set of rust-colored spherical wire sculpture mock-ups on a wooden table.

    3. Documentation & Production

    We coordinate the artworks’ documentation, production, and fabrication process.

  • Modern conference room with a large wooden table, surrounded by black chairs. Curated abstract red artwork on white walls, with geometric design overlay in the center. The room has a neutral color scheme and bright lighting.

    4. Delivery & Installation

    We oversee the delivery and installation of artworks on site.

  • Open book with page layouts and designs, featuring text and images for final art collection documentation.

    5. Handover & Documentation

    We provide a Final Art Book documenting the details of all the artworks, including longevity and maintenance considerations.

Clients & Collaborators

  • Mondivan Developments

  • Reliance Properties

  • Seacliff Properties

  • Path Developments (Formerly PCRE Group)

  • Gablecraft Homes

  • Millennium Development

  • Orion Construction

  • Downtown Vancouver BIA

  • City of New Westminster

  • City of Vancouver

  • City of Port Coquitlam

  • City of Richmond

  • Providence Health Care

  • Virgin Voyages

  • Volume Creative

  • TransLink

  • Kelowna Airport Authority

  • omb architects + designers

  • Hapa Collaborative

  • Motiv Architects

  • Checkwitch Poiron Architects

  • Hotson Architecture

  • Laura Melling Studio

  • "Anabella has been an amazing resource to our Arts & Culture team at the City of Port Coquitlam. She brings highly specialized knowledge about public art, architecture, and public spaces to the table in an accessible, professional way. She has been invaluable in helping us successfully navigate the complex procurement process for a major public art work. I highly recommend working with her!"

    Robi Smith, Arts & Culture Coordinator, 
    City of Port Coquitlam
    Port Coquitlam, Canada

  • "I am extremely grateful and happy to have worked alongside Anabella in curating, developing, and delivering the art collection for Virgin Voyages’ Valiant Lady. Her diligence, drive and dedication were a win, win, win! Not to mention, her personality – she was such a pleasure to work with even when considering the stringent maritime parameters and tight deadlines we were up against. She was certainly a valued member of the team who helped us get to where we needed to be through effective communication and creativity."

    Erin Barton, Sr. Design Manager
    Virgin Voyages
    Florida, USA

  • "I was impressed with Anabella’s professionalism and integrity as she led me through all aspects of a fairly complicated art installation. As site conditions changed and time frames compressed she ensured I received the best venue for the work and adequate time to install. I also appreciated her knowledge of all the work installed from other artists in the venue. It made my experience very memorable."

    Brent Comber, Artist, 
    Vancouver, Canada

  • "It was an incredible pleasure working with Anabella and having her direct our art program. To us, design is paramount to ensure we built the most unique holiday experience for our guests. Anabella has been more than instrumental in leading the art program’s Creative Direction. Not only does it complement the design, but it elevates it beyond anything we could have imagined. Her thoughtfulness in building the narrative of each piece demonstrates her keen understanding of our brand. Without a doubt, the program is as unique and strong as it is today because of Anabella’s leadership."

    Julian Narvaez, Senior Design Manager 
    Virgin Voyages
    Florida, USA

  • "It was a pleasure to deal with Anabella, we had the opportunity to work with her on the Telus project, when she became responsible for the arts selection, the project finally got moving forward and the communication was very fluid. The right person at the right time."

    Rheal Oliver-Lanthier, Director
    Art Mur Gallery
    Montreal, Canada

  • "I was one of the artists who worked with Anabella when she was the art consultant on the Telus Garden project. I found her very professional, insightful and a pleasure to work with. She made everything clear and easy."

    Al McWilliams, Artist
    Vancouver, Canada

  • "I worked with Anabella on multiple projects involving art, branding and environmental graphics, for both large and small scale architectural projects. She has an excellent understanding of space and a creative approach. With her outgoing and professional personality, she builds good relationships with clients. She is very enjoyable to work with – it makes the design process easy and seamless."

    Vivian Chin, Design Director
    Hotson Architecture
    Vancouver, Canada

  • "I was an artist selected for the Telus Garden project in downtown Vancouver and worked with Anabella throughout the project from Ottawa, ON. Anabella was always a pleasure to work with, both remotely for the planning, and in person for the final installation. She communicated quickly and concisely to answer any questions or concerns I had and made the process a joy."

    Amy Thompson, Artist
    Ottawa, Canada

  • "Our gallery worked with Anabella Alfonzo of mcfarlane biggar architects + designers inc. of Vancouver, in 2014- 2015 on the acquisition and installation of ‘Archetype’, a bronze statue by Michael Dennis, approximately 6’ high and 400lbs. Anabella was entirely professional; all timetables and payments were completed as planned, the whole process was pleasant and the placing of the piece was sensitive to the site and to the piece itself. The collection of work selected for the Telus Garden project was very impressive, many stunning works by a wide range of artists, mostly local, brilliantly displayed. We heartily endorse Anabella Alfonzo for all her future work in the selection, siting and display of artworks in public, corporate or private collections."

    Celia Duthie and Nicholas Hunt
    Duthie Gallery
    Salt Spring Island, Canada