
Our Story
ARTGOW: How a Band of Rebel Artists Transformed China’s Copycat Village into a Global Art Force
The Spark: Dafen Village’s Hidden Revolution
In 2009, Shenzhen’s Dafen Village was synonymous with one thing: assembly-line art. Thousands of workers replicated Van Goghs and Monets for export, painting 60% of the world’s oil reproductions. But beneath the factory buzz, a quiet rebellion brewed.
Four young artists—Liang, Mei, Zhao, and Tomasz (a Polish expat drawn to China’s creative ferment)—met in a cramped studio. Frustrated by painting only others’ masterpieces, they dreamed of a space where original voices could thrive. Their manifesto was simple:
“We copy to eat. We create to live.”
That spark ignited ARTGOW.
Survival & Solidarity: The Early Days
Starting with $800 pooled from teaching art classes, they rented a leaky attic in Dafen. By day, they painted customer commissions (still replicas); by night, they experimented with bold abstracts and haunting landscapes.
The Turning Point: A monsoonal flood ruined 37 canvases days before a critical delivery. Instead of accepting defeat, the team painted together for 72 hours straight—fueled by jasmine tea and steamed buns—to remake every piece. The client never knew, but the moment forged ARTGOW’s creed:
“Alone we starve. Together we soar.”
Defying the Copycat Curse
While Dafen factories prioritized speed, ARTGOW gambled on slow art:
Hand-stretched Belgian linen canvases
Pigments mixed from raw minerals
Brushstrokes layered over weeks, not hours
Their first original collection, “Whispers of Lingnan” (inspired by Guangdong’s vanishing wetlands), sold out at a 2012 Guangzhou gallery show. One critic wrote:
“These aren’t paintings. They’re rebellions on canvas.”
The Breakthrough: Authenticity Goes Global
In 2016, an American interior designer discovered ARTGOW at a Shanghai art fair. She commissioned 12 custom landscapes for a luxury Hawaiian resort. The project’s success unlocked a revelation:
The world craved soulful art with a story—not just cheap decor.
ARTGOW pivoted:
✅ Empowered 100+ Dafen artists to transition from replication to original work
✅ Launched global e-commerce with virtual studio tours
✅ Pioneered “Art with Roots” — each painting documents its maker’s journey
Today: Crafting Legacies, Stroke by Stroke
From a rain-soaked attic to a collective of 100+ artists across Shenzhen, Beijing and Hangzhou. ARTGOW remains driven by its founding ethos:
Every piece is a conversation between artist and patron
Tradition fuels innovation (e.g., AI-assisted sketches refined by hand)
Art as activism: 5% of profits fund arts education in rural China
“We don’t just sell art. We sell courage.”
— Liang Qiang, ARTGOW Co-Founder
-
In 2009, we were on the attic of our rented house in Dafen, Shenzhen
-
In 2011, we were in the newly rented studio
-
In 2025, we have new bright offices and factories
-
Production Range
Huge selection at great prices! We are located in Shenzhen, with a 2000 square meter manufacturing plant, Our production range includes art micro-spray, laser, wood carving, UV, acrylic, metal, paper art, leather, installation, sculpture, etc.! We have the capability of researching and designing, and also produce manufacturing for home hanging paintings, three-dimensional installations and home accessories!
-
Warehuoses
In order to provide better service in the US, we have set up branches and warehouses based in Las Vegas, which makes our shipments faster!
-
Focus on Design
We participate in design exhibitions each year located in Guangzhou and Shanghai! We display our original design works through the exhibitions and communicate ideas with various designers and customers from all over the world!
Reliable Team
While we are committed to bring you the most fashionable and cutting-edge products in the industry, we know that good design is meaningless without quality manufacturing.
Our team of designers are professionals from major art academies, they use their talents and enthusiasm to continuously explore the latest product frontiers! We are also fortunate to have contracted with more than 100 artists, and authorization towards thousands of their pictures. It is our company’s mission to bring their creativity to consumers!
