Modern puzzles.
Incredible artists.
Original, accessible art.
Curated puzzles by contemporary artists of color.
AS SEEN IN
This could be us but you playin’…
Puzzles have come a long way from kittens and windmills, but the industry remains painfully lacking in diversity. Even new companies with beautiful, modern images have very few puzzles that feature people of color - either as artists or subjects. The art world has a similar issue with representation. Recent studies have found that over 85% of the work featured in major US museums belong to white artists, and that over 80% of American artists represented by top New York galleries are also white. When institutions struggle or fail to support artists of color, it severely impacts how they are able to cultivate capital and generate value. This then trickles down to us as consumers, continually influencing which artists we know and whose work matters.
An alternative approach to art collecting
Our puzzles aim to bridge the gap of accessibility to fine art, and were created with the knowledge that the work of artists of color is valuable, desirable, and profitable. We believe that art appreciation is not only for the wealthy, and that the future of art consumerism is one in which everyone can participate. In punctuation and grammar, the apostrophe symbol is used to illustrate where there has been an omission (o'er), and to indicate possession or ownership (Bearden’s legacy). Our name draws its inspiration from this usage, fully articulating our desire to fill the void of diverse representation in the puzzle space, and to exhibit our pride in the creativity and contributions of contemporary artists of color.
We are each other’s keeper.
Sustainability
Our planet is our responsibility, so from our puzzles to our packaging we make it a point to leave the smallest footprint possible using materials that are recyclable and sustainable. Our puzzles are made of 100% recycled chipboard and printed with eco-friendly, non-toxic ink.
Representation
We believe in the importance and necessity of diverse representation in both the puzzle and art world, and hope that our collections help change the face of art consumerism - fighting back against the exclusionary classism and racism of art culture.
Community
We aim to be a company that exists in community with Black and Brown people, being economically accountable to our peace, joy, creativity, and liberation. As we grow we hope to continue to ensure that our impact extends beyond the life of our products.
Our non-profit Partner: ProjectArt
ProjectArt empowers youth, emerging artists, and communities by offering free afterschool art classes and artist residencies in partnership with public libraries. Each tuition-free program is focused in communities where students do not receive adequate access to art education, and every class is taught by an emerging visual artist who is also given free studio space to develop their work. With locations in nine cities across the country, ProjectArt is a leading out-of-school arts program providing innovative and creative approaches to teaching and learning through visual arts. We are honored to support them in their work.
A note from our founder
When I started Apostrophe I hadn't done a puzzle in over 10 years. As a kid I was an avid puzzler with a designated puzzle table in my room, but as I grew up I did them less and less because I felt largely ignored by the industry. There were very few puzzles that spoke to my interests, my culture, or my aesthetic as a Black woman. There were very few artists who looked like me, or in whose work I could see myself reflected. Then, in 2019 two seemingly unrelated things happened: I unsuccessfully tried to buy my first piece of original art (the painting I fell in love with turned out to be well over $7k), and a dear friend gave me a puzzle for my birthday. Since there was nothing on the market they thought I would like, they gave me a custom puzzle of the painting I loved - and everything clicked into place. What if we could utilize puzzles to offer an interactive way to engage with fine art? What if we weren't solely dependent on traditionally white institutions to learn about and celebrate the work of artists of color? What if we could help foster a culture of art consumerism that was accessible and inclusive?
Puzzles are fantastic tools for mindfulness and self-care - a source of meditative calm in our ever bustling and increasingly hectic world. They allow us to unplug, to return to the simplicity of our childhoods or newly discover a simple and engaging way to pass the time. I hope our puzzles do that. I also hope they encourage you to learn about and support contemporary artists of color, who are some of the leading innovative and creative artistic voices in the world. I hope you’re inspired to invest in communities of color and find additional ways to combat economic, social, and institutional injustice in your own lives. I hope our collections remind you that you are worthy and deserving of great art and that you are allowed to engage with it. My vision for Apostrophe is rooted in a fundamental commitment to Black and Brown artists, people, and communities being seen, valued, supported, celebrated, compensated, and invested in. Thank you for being a part of that.
Pull up and Piece out -
