Momart
Momart is a British specialist art-services company providing secure storage, handling, transportation, installation, framing and exhibition logistics for museums, galleries, collectors and artists.
Last updated October 14, 2026
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Overview
Momart is a British professional-services company focused on the physical care and movement of works of art. Its activities include specialist storage, packing, crating, transportation, installation, display, framing, exhibition logistics and related customs and security procedures. The company operates purpose-adapted facilities designed to protect often fragile, valuable or environmentally sensitive works, including climate-controlled storage and transport equipment with temperature regulation and air-ride suspension. The business began in London in 1971 when artist Jim Moyes established an informal service called Jim Moyes's Compendium of Working Possibilities. The early operation supported emerging artists and galleries with installation, handling, transport, framing and display work. Artists associated with its early client base included David Hockney, Howard Hodgkin and Francis Bacon. In September 1972 the business was registered as Momart Limited, a name formed from Moyes's name and that of business partner Rees Martin. Martin later left, but the Momart name remained. Momart initially developed through word of mouth. From its East London base it undertook a broad range of practical art-related work, including moving paintings, hanging exhibitions, making frames and cases, installing sculpture and providing storage. During the 1980s it expanded from commercial galleries and artists into museum and public-sector work. In 1985 the company commissioned what was described as the United Kingdom's first fine-art vehicle with temperature control and air-ride suspension, and completed its first museum assignment for the Royal Academy, involving a Henry Moore exhibition. The company broadened its international capabilities from 1988 and worked with museums, galleries and lenders on overseas movements and touring exhibitions. In collaboration with Tate, it helped develop a standard specification for museum cases in 1991. Momart also became involved with the Royal Collection and was appointed a Royal Warrant holder by Queen Elizabeth II in 1993. In 2001 it joined with five other international fine-art transport agents to establish ARTIM, an association intended to monitor professional and financial service standards among leading specialist agents. Momart attracted major public attention after a warehouse fire in Leyton on 24 May 2004. A deliberately started fire at an adjoining unit spread across the industrial estate and destroyed more than 100 artworks held in a Momart warehouse. The lost works included pieces by prominent Young British Artists such as Tracey Emin, Damien Hirst, Sarah Lucas, Gary Hume, Jake and Dinos Chapman and Helen Chadwick. Many were owned by collector Charles Saatchi. Reported estimates placed the value of the destroyed works between £30 million and £50 million. Artists and insurers pursued claims alleging negligence; the dispute was resolved through an out-of-court mediated settlement for an undisclosed sum. In 2008 Momart was acquired by Falkland Islands Holdings for reported consideration of £10.3 million, comprising cash, shares and deferred consideration. The company continued operating as a specialist business within the group. It subsequently expanded its customs and logistics capabilities, receiving permission from HM Revenue and Customs to conduct customs procedures in-house in 2009 and becoming an Authorised Economic Operator in 2011. Its administrative headquarters moved from Hackney to Whitechapel in 2008 and later to South Quay in 2013. In 2016 Momart added a purpose-built Leyton storage unit with approximately 2,500 square metres of additional specialist storage capacity. Momart's clients have included major British cultural institutions such as the Royal Academy of Arts, the Victoria and Albert Museum, the National Gallery, Tate Modern, Tate Britain and Buckingham Palace. Its broader identity combines logistics expertise with conservation-aware handling and project coordination. The company also has a long-running cultural initiative in its Christmas card series, begun in 1984 and developed in collaboration with numerous British and international artists. Examples from the series entered the permanent collections of the Victoria and Albert Museum and Tate.
History
Momart originated in London in 1971 as Jim Moyes's Compendium of Working Possibilities, an artist-led service created by Jim Moyes to help emerging artists and galleries with practical requirements such as handling, installation, display, transport and framing. Early users included David Hockney, Howard Hodgkin and Francis Bacon. The enterprise was formally registered as Momart Limited in September 1972. The name combined elements of Moyes's name and that of partner Rees Martin; although Martin later departed, the established name continued. The company first operated from Richmond Road in Hackney, East London. It expanded organically by providing a wide range of hands-on art services, from moving paintings and hanging gallery displays to making frames and cases, installing sculpture and storing works. By the mid-1980s Momart had developed a substantial reputation among commercial galleries and artists and began winning work from public museums and cultural institutions. In 1985 it commissioned a temperature-controlled fine-art vehicle with air-ride suspension and carried out a Royal Academy assignment involving a Henry Moore exhibition. This helped it offer a more integrated service, including lender visits, case construction, empty-case transport, on-site packing and delivery. International work expanded from 1988. As the company handled more cross-border loans and touring exhibitions, it investigated improved case designs and worked with Tate in 1991 on a standard specification for museum cases suitable for touring exhibitions and worldwide shipments. Momart's institutional relationships also grew to include the Royal Collection. Queen Elizabeth II appointed the company a Royal Warrant holder in 1993, reflecting its established service relationship and reputation. In 2001 Momart joined five other international fine-art transport agents in founding ARTIM, a professional association whose members monitor one another's operational and financial standards. In 2003 Momart invested in a larger Leyton site containing a workshop, storage facilities, transport offices and new equipment. That year the Department for Transport granted it Listed Agent status, allowing certified employees to conduct hand searches of artworks and potentially avoid airport X-ray procedures in appropriate circumstances. The company's most serious crisis occurred on 24 May 2004, when a deliberately started fire at an adjoining business on the Cromwell industrial estate in Leyton spread through neighboring units and reached a Momart warehouse. More than 100 works were destroyed. The losses included works by Tracey Emin, Damien Hirst, Sarah Lucas, Gary Hume, Jake and Dinos Chapman and Helen Chadwick, with many works owned by Charles Saatchi. The estimated value of the destroyed art was reported at between £30 million and £50 million. Artists and insurers brought allegations of negligence against Momart, but the case ended in a mediated out-of-court settlement for an undisclosed amount. In 2008 Falkland Islands Holdings acquired Momart. Reported consideration was £10.3 million, made up of cash, shares and deferred consideration. Momart remained an operating specialist within the acquiring group, while its management and staff continued to develop the business. Administrative functions moved from Hackney to Whitechapel in the same year. In 2009 HM Revenue and Customs granted the company authority to manage its customs procedures in-house. In 2011 it obtained Authorised Economic Operator certification, which was intended to simplify customs processes and facilitate movement within the European Union at that time. Momart moved its head office to South Quay in East London in 2013. In 2016 it expanded its Leyton storage operation with a purpose-built unit adding approximately 2,500 square metres of specialist art-storage space. Across its history, the company has served museums, galleries, collectors, artists and royal institutions, including the Royal Academy, Victoria and Albert Museum, National Gallery, Tate Modern, Tate Britain and Buckingham Palace. Its Christmas card project, begun in 1984 with a design by Bruce McLean, became a continuing collaboration with prominent artists; examples from the series are held in the permanent collections of the Victoria and Albert Museum and Tate.
- 2016
Leyton storage expansion
[1]A purpose-built unit adds approximately 2,500 square metres of specialist art-storage capacity.
- 2011
Authorised Economic Operator certification
[1]Momart becomes an Authorised Economic Operator, supporting more streamlined customs procedures.
- 2008
Acquisition by Falkland Islands Holdings
[1]Momart is acquired by Falkland Islands Holdings for reported consideration of £10.3 million.
- 2004
Leyton warehouse fire
[1]A fire spreading from an adjoining unit destroys more than 100 artworks stored by Momart.
- 2003
Leyton facilities and Listed Agent status
[1]The company invests in new Leyton premises and receives Listed Agent status from the Department for Transport.
- 2001
ARTIM founded
[1]Momart joins five other international fine-art transport agents in founding ARTIM.
- 1993
Royal Warrant granted
[1]Queen Elizabeth II appoints Momart a Royal Warrant holder.
- 1991
Museum-case specification developed with Tate
[1]Momart collaborates with Tate on a standard specification for cases used in touring exhibitions and international art shipments.
- 1985
Fine-art transport and museum work expand
[1]Momart commissions a temperature-controlled, air-ride fine-art vehicle and handles a Henry Moore exhibition for the Royal Academy.
- 1984
Christmas card series begins
[1]Bruce McLean designs the first in Momart's continuing artist-created Christmas card series.
Products and positioning
A specialist, institution-oriented art logistics and storage provider emphasizing secure handling, environmental control, exhibition expertise and international transport capability.
Storage
Specialist art storage
Momart provides secure storage for works of art in specialist warehouse environments adapted for fragile and valuable objects. Climate control and dedicated handling procedures are central to the service, with capacity expanded through purpose-built facilities in Leyton.
Logistics · 1985
Fine-art transport
The company transports works for museums, galleries, collectors and artists in the United Kingdom and internationally. Its transport capabilities include temperature-controlled vehicles, air-ride suspension and coordinated lender-to-borrower movements for exhibitions.
Conservation logistics
Packing, crating and museum cases
Momart designs and makes protective cases and undertakes on-site packing. Its work with Tate contributed to a standard museum-case specification for touring exhibitions and international shipments.
Exhibition services · 1971
Exhibition installation and handling
Services include site visits, handling, installation, deinstallation, display, framing and coordination of exhibition movements. The offering grew from the company's original hands-on support for London artists and galleries.
Trade and compliance services · 2009
Customs and airport procedures
Momart developed in-house customs capability and received Listed Agent status and later Authorised Economic Operator certification, supporting secure and more efficient movement of artworks through transport and border systems.
Controversies
2004
Leyton warehouse fire and destruction of contemporary artworks
A deliberately started fire at an adjoining unit spread through the Cromwell industrial estate and destroyed more than 100 artworks in a Momart warehouse. The losses included works by Tracey Emin, Damien Hirst, Sarah Lucas, Gary Hume, Jake and Dinos Chapman and Helen Chadwick. Artists and insurers later alleged negligence in legal proceedings that ended in an undisclosed mediated settlement.
Marketing campaigns
- 1984Momart Christmas card series
United Kingdom · International art community
Momart began commissioning artists to create distinctive Christmas cards, starting with Bruce McLean. The project became a long-running cultural collaboration involving British and international artists.
Outcome. The series became part of Momart's cultural identity, and examples entered the permanent collections of the Victoria and Albert Museum and Tate.
Brand decisions
2016
Expansion of specialist storage capacityStrategyBackground
Growth in storage activity created a need for additional purpose-built capacity.
Action taken
Momart opened an additional purpose-built unit at Leyton.
Aftermath
The expansion added approximately 2,500 square metres of specialist art-storage space.
2008
Acquisition by Falkland Islands HoldingsM&ABackground
Momart had developed into an established specialist art-logistics and storage business with institutional and international clients.
Action taken
Falkland Islands Holdings acquired Momart.
Aftermath
Momart continued operating within the group, with existing management and staff retained to support expansion.
Reported acquisition consideration. £10.3 million (2008)
1985
Investment in specialist fine-art vehiclesStrategyBackground
Growing museum and institutional work required more controlled transport conditions.
Action taken
Momart commissioned a temperature-controlled vehicle with air-ride suspension for fine-art movements.
Aftermath
The investment supported integrated museum-exhibition transport and handling services.
Sources1 sources
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