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Blouin Art Media

Publishing Companies2 min readAugust 15, 2026
Key Takeaways & Facts
  • Blouin Art Media was founded in New York City by Louise Blouin.
  • The company published notable art magazines including Modern Painters and Art+Auction.
  • The digital platform originally launched as artinfo.com in 2005.
  • The company faced multiple public disputes regarding unpaid compensation to freelance journalists and staff during the 2010s.

Blouin Art Media (historically known as Louise Blouin Media) was an art magazine and book publishing company headquartered in New York City. Founded by Canadian businesswoman Louise Blouin, the company operated several prominent art publications, reference databases, and digital platforms before scaling back operations.

History

LTB Holding Ltd. was established in 2001 by Louise Blouin, followed by the formal creation of the publishing company in 2003. Over the subsequent decade, the company acquired or launched numerous print and digital properties focused on art, culture, and travel, including Art+Auction, Gallery Guide, Museums, Culture+Travel, and Modern Painters. In addition to periodicals, the firm acquired reference databases such as the Art Sales Index and Gordon's, as well as the French art book publisher Somogy.

The company expanded into digital media with the launch of artinfo.com in 2005, which later transitioned to blouinartinfo.com and established regional editions across multiple international markets. However, several print properties experienced short lifespans; Spoon magazine was closed shortly after acquisition in 2006, and Culture+Travel ceased publication in 2008.

Controversies and Financial Issues

Throughout the 2010s, the company faced multiple legal challenges, labor disputes, and controversies regarding employee and freelancer compensation. In 2010, freelancer groups organized to demand back payments, and subsequent years brought further reports of unpaid wages to journalists and contractors. In December 2013, the digital arm laid off numerous international staff members following internal restructuring. Further executive departures occurred in 2017 alongside reports of financial difficulties and delayed payroll processing.

Legal actions against the company included a 2011 defamation lawsuit filed in a United States district court regarding an article published on blouinartinfo.com, as well as lawsuits from former executives regarding unpaid compensation.

Frequently Asked Questions

The company was founded by Louise Blouin.

References (10)

  1. [1]

    Keith J. Kelly (January 5, 2017) Art & Auction exec ‘voluntarily’ leaves company Archived October 27, 2017, at the Wayback Machine.New York Post.

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  2. [2]

    Zena Olijnyk (December 5–25, 2005), Louise Blouin MacBain — The Art-World Aficionado, Canadian Business Magazine, archived from the original on March 18, 2006

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  3. [3]

    "AP Alternative Assets LP". Reuters. Archived from the original on September 25, 2015. Retrieved August 17, 2015.

    Source Link
  4. [4]

    Joe Pompeo ([n.d.]). An Artful Dodger Archived July 17, 2015, at the Wayback Machine. DuJour. Accessed August 2015.

    Source Link
  5. [5]

    Keith J. Kelly (July 16, 2010). Didn’t get paid by Louise Blouin? Get in line Archived August 28, 2017, at the Wayback Machine. New York Post. Accessed December 2013.

    Source Link
  6. [6]

    Nate Freeman (January 4, 2017) Scott Indrisek Out As Modern Painters Editor-In-Chief, As Louise Blouin Media Sees Prominent Departures Archived February 14, 2017, at the Wayback Machine ArtNews.

    Source Link
  7. [7]

    Adam Klasfeld (December 12, 2011). "Gawker Brought Into New Yorker Fracas" Archived February 4, 2012, at the Wayback Machine. Courthouse News Service. Retrieved August 2013.

    Source Link
  8. [8]

    Keith J. Kelly (January 21, 2017) Louise Blouin Media having money troubles yet again Archived November 14, 2017, at the Wayback Machine. New York Post.

    Source Link
  9. [9]

    Keith J. Kelly (February 14, 2014) Former execs sue Blouin Media Archived June 20, 2016, at the Wayback Machine. New York Post.

    Source Link
  10. [10]

    Dan Duray (December 13, 2013). Blouin Media, Publisher of Art+Auction and Modern Painters, Terminates Most International Freelance Contracts Archived April 18, 2014, at the Wayback Machine. New York: observer.com. Accessed April 2015.

    Source Link
Topics:#Louise Blouin#Blouin Art Media#Modern Painters#Art+Auction#Artinfo
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