Heralbony is an art agency that specializes in licensing artworks produced by artists with intellectual disabilities for a variety of purposes, including commercial products, advertisements and events.
The company was established in 2018 by Takaya and Fumito Matsuda, twin brothers who have an older brother with an intellectual disability. Megumi Kobayashi, the chief growth officer at Heralbony Europe, said the idea for it originated from their observations of the lives of people with disabilities and their diverse talents, one of which is artistic excellence.
Despite the lack of precedent in licensing the works of unknown artists, the company’s commitment to the quality of design and materials, coupled with the overwhelming energy and extraordinary color expression in the works, gradually gained recognition. This led to various collaborations with companies, including some well-known brands in Japan.
The company recently started operations in Paris, marking a significant step in its global market expansion strategy, which was inspired by an earlier visit to Paris organized by the Japan External Trade Organization (JETRO).
“In the birthplace of art brut, a form of artwork created by self-taught artists including those with disabilities, we met with renowned gallerist Christian Berst, specializing in art brut. He encouraged us to expand our operations internationally, noting that he had never seen anyone attempt what we were achieving in Japan,” Kobayashi said. There have been many occasions to connect with potential partners, investors and clients in France thanks to JETRO’s introduction.
Furthermore, the company was selected as one of 10 companies to participate in the government-led J-Startup Program in 2023 and was invited to Station F in Paris, the world’s largest startup campus, as part of the program. “During the two weeks we were there, we met with various companies and investors while participating in a training program provided by one of the top business schools worldwide,” Kobayashi said. One of the companies Heralbony established contact with was LVMH, the world’s leading luxury goods group, which organizes the annual LVMH Innovation Award to support startups. Heralbony became the first Japanese company to be selected as one of the finalists and award winners.
As part of the support package for the award winners, Kobayashi is now based in Paris, where she is promoting the company’s business in Europe. “We have already entered into partnership agreements with facilities for persons with disabilities in several countries, which will facilitate our connection with artists. Our goal is to establish a global network of artists and showcase their work to a global audience,” she said.
