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The Billion Dollar Brushstroke

The Billion Dollar Brushstroke
M.F. HUSAIN, Horses, 2006, acrylic on canvas, 246 x 152 cm. A monumental composition of bold, angular forms and striking colors capturing the raw power of horses charging beyond the frame.

Presented by Lloyds Auctions

Giuseppe Cassin spent more than a decade closing multimillion-dollar deals for filmmakers, artists, directors, and collectors. Frustrated by the art world's outdated, old-world system—high fees, invitation-only sales, and persistent integrity issues—he developed a game-changing idea: a digital-first platform that does for authenticated art what Uber did for taxis.

It connects sellers directly to a global audience with rigorous authentication, high-end curation, transparent fees, and real-time bidding open to anyone, anywhere. “We’re giving every artist, collector, and seller the same global access that only a handful enjoyed before,” said Giuseppe Cassin, Founder: Lloyds Creative Arts.

Mr. Cassin examines the sculptural depth of F.N. SOUZA’s impasto of a vibrant cityscape, where every line and heavy stroke affirms the artist’s status as India’s Picasso.

Cassin pitched the concept to investors and secured heavy backing from leading online auction house Lloyds Auctions. The platform officially launched on January 1, 2026, with its first dedicated online auction going live in mid-January, featuring a headline collection of 30 Southeast Asian Masters including works from masters such as M.F. Husain, FN Souza, Manjit Bawa, and Vasudeo S. Gaitonde with estimates in the tens of millions. The response was immediate and strong: sellers and collectors flooded in.

In just its first few weeks of trading, the platform has locked in over $1 billion worth of committed art listings, spanning bluechip masters to emerging talents. “Our mission is to make art accessible to everyone in a safe, non-intimidating way,” Mr. Cassin continued. “With every work rigorously verified and independently authenticated—including by an expert of the buyer’s choice—bidders and buyers bid with a higher level of confidence, especially on master’s and other ultra-high-value art categories. At the same time, emerging artists get immediate global exposure and real-time feedback from customers on what resonates with their work.”

F.N. SOUZA’s architectural cityscape channels raw, brooding intensity through sharp angles and visceral textures, transforming a medieval-inspired vista into a powerful psychological landscape.
V. S. GAITONDE’s rare abstract masterpiece invites a state of profound meditation, where layered surfaces and silent tonal shifts transcend visual art to become an experience of pure inner stillness. 

The platform’s rapid rise has drawn strong interest from investors and industry insiders, who now see unicorn status (a $1 billion+ valuation) as a realistic next milestone. Should it reach that mark, it would rank among the quickest ascents since Canva.

The platform continues to receive new artists and collectors every day, with fresh auctions launching regularly.

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