The Art Handler Who Moved the Magna Carta: 36 Years of Stories from Atelier 4's Founder | SEEN
Jonathan Schwartz never meant to build one of the world's most respected art handling companies. He was a wannabe musician who "wasn't much of a driver" when he answered an ad to transport art cross-country in the mid-1980s.
36 years later, Atelier 4 has moved everything from Kerry James Marshall paintings to the Magna Carta itself.
In this conversation, Jonathan shares:
-How he started with a pirate outfit (his words) and came home to maggots in the sink
-Why he named his company after a Fantastic Four comic book
-Stories of blowtorches in hospice centers, 40-story hoists, and customs nightmares
-The balance between reverence and irreverence that defines his approach
-What actually makes a great art handler (spoiler: you don't need to love art)
-Why he'll never write his memoir while still in the business