"We envision creating a space—a sanctuary free from the cynicism of society—where artists can gather, live, and create in an environment grounded in authenticity and truth."



The Story




The art world can be isolating, often prioritizing fame and sales over authenticity and personal growth. Many artists lose their passion, struggling with disconnection and the pressure to commodify their work.


Our project offers an alternative—a sanctuary where artists can live, create, and reconnect in an environment built on truth, freedom, and community. It’s a place where artistic exploration thrives, unburdened by societal expectations.


More than just a space, this is a movement. By enabling collaboration and self-expression, we’re building a community that carries this ethos into the world, proving that art and life can be lived with deeper connection and meaning.



Building a Haven for Artistic Growth.



The vision




Our long-term goal is to build an art village—a self-sustaining creative haven where artists can escape distractions, reconnect with their passion, and find inspiration through community. Over time, this village will evolve into a dynamic hub, expanding beyond workshops to include community events, residencies, studios, experimentation spaces, and a common space.


The village will feature community events like exhibitions and artist talks to encourage creative exchange. Residencies will offer immersive programs for artistic growth and collaboration, while shared and private studios will provide dedicated workspaces.


Experimentation spaces will push creative boundaries by exploring art and technology. At its heart, a common space will bring people together to share meals, ideas, and connections.


Our vision is to build a thriving creative hub that inspires artists and cultivates meaningful collaboration.



A decade of searching.



The History




For the past decade, our journey has been driven by a single purpose: creating meaningful connections within the art world. We believe that the path to elevating artistic practice lies in collaboration, shared knowledge, and fostering authentic relationships among artists. Over the years, we’ve built initiatives to realize this vision, each a step toward strengthening the global creative community. We have been part of the founding and co-founding of the following initiatives.


PaintGuide

What began in 2014 as Henrik Uldalen’s personal project to share artistic inspiration has evolved into a worldwide movement. PaintGuide invited artists to take over its Instagram platform weekly, curating a dialogue about creativity and influence. The result? A vibrant community of over 300,000 followers, millions of impressions, exhibitions in New York, London, and San Francisco, and a best-selling crowdfunded book and a magazine. PaintGuide proved that digital spaces can cultivate genuine connection and discovery in the art world, becoming a blueprint for blending technology and artistry.


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Arthouse Initiative

Launched to bridge the gap between cultures and create real-life artistic connections, the Arthouse Initiative oversees two residencies: Arthouse Holland (Netherlands) and Arthouse Pani (Mexico). These residencies welcome artists worldwide, offering them a space to exchange ideas, collaborate on new stories, and build enduring networks. Beyond residencies, Arthouse organizes exhibitions and global projects to amplify the voices of its members creating meaningful connections between seasoned professionals and emerging talents.


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Life Drawing Barcelona

Recognizing the value of direct practice and skill-building, Life Drawing Barcelona has for the last fifteen years brought together artists of all levels for in-person and online life drawing sessions. In a beautiful space in the heart of Barcelona, artists engage with a diverse roster of models, honing their craft in a community setting. Through its innovative online platform, Life Drawing Barcelona also brings the intimacy of physical sessions to artists worldwide, offering a sense of presence and connection no matter the distance.


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Founded by artists, for artists.



the founders



Henrik Uldalen



Henrik Aarrestad Uldalen (1986) is a self-taught artist whose creative production revolves around classic figurative painting, presented in a contemporary manner. Henrik seeks to explore ideas revolving around absurdism, nostalgia, loneliness and alienation, juxtaposed with frail beauty. Though a figurative painter, his focus has always been the emotional content rather than narratives. The atmospheres in his work is often presented in a dream or limbo-like state, with elements of expressionism.


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Benet Ferrer



Benet Ferrer (1976) is a Catalan graphic designer with a background from Elisava Barcelona School of Design. With over 20 years of experience in advertising agencies, he has worked as an illustrator, designer, and photographer. In addition to his design career, Benet is the founder of Life Drawing Barcelona, established in 2011, where he has been running weekly life drawing sessions, workshops, and events ever since.


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Daniel Martin



Daniel Martin is a multidisciplinary artist working in painting, sculpture, collage, and digital technologies such as 3D scanning, Virtual Reality, Augmented Reality, and 3D animation. His practice engages with themes of reality, perception, and transformation. In his latest works, Martin delves into the simulation hypothesis, suggesting that our reality may be akin to a digital construct. Utilizing wireframes—skeletal structures used in digital modeling—as a central motif, he evokes the underlying digital architecture of our world.


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RIVEN


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Carrer de Mata, 32, Sants-Montjuïc, 08004 Barcelona, Spanje
Rivenprojects@gmail.com