About Us

Art Without Walls: A Private Collection

From the Great Halls to Your Morning Coffee

Many of the world’s greatest masterpieces are locked away. Located in special buildings, often involving travel to their unique settings. Once there, they sit behind velvet ropes and thick stone walls, only reachable if you happen to be in the right place at the right moment.

That changed when the Metropolitan Museum of Art launched its Open Access initiative and opened its digital collection. They didn’t just show us the art—they gave it back to us.

MugArtClassic began because I often found myself lost in those archives at 2:00 AM, fascinated by sketches and textiles you’d never see on a gift shop postcard. I started to wonder why these beautiful moments should remain hidden behind screens or behind museum walls.

The Beauty of a Smaller Collection

You won’t see thousands of generic prints here. I’ve chosen to keep this shop small on purpose.

I don’t want to offer the same five paintings everyone already knows. Instead, I look for the quieter pieces—the detailed pattern of an 18th-century French silk, the moody shadow in a forgotten Dutch study, or the fresh, simple energy of an old woodblock print.

Explore the Wings

I’ve grouped my favourite finds into three themed rooms, each designed to evoke a different feeling in your daily routine.

01. The Floral Gallery

Lush, textured, and boldly colourful. This room explores the richness of botanical art. I love the contrast between Haverman’s delicate touch and the bold, expressive style of Van Gogh’s bouquets. From the bright realism of Roesen and Peters to the gentle, dreamy feel of Caillebotte, these pieces can make your morning coffee feel like a stroll through a private garden.

02. The Midnight Series

This one is for night thinkers and dreamers. The collection highlights the dramatic play between shadow and light, known as “chiaroscuro.” It features the haunting mystery of the Unicorn Tapestries and the powerful tension in works by Caravaggio, La Tour, and Ribera. With the deep tones of Paulus Bor and the moody atmosphere of Ryder, this series is for anyone who finds beauty in darkness.

03. The Graphic Archive

This room is all about the power of a single line. It’s my Zen space, where I focus on how much can be expressed with just a little. It began with the precise, rhythmic lines of Hokusai and Hiroshige, then moved into the bold shapes of Lachaise and Johnson. With the calm, geometric stillness of Peto, this collection is for people who want their space and their mornings to feel open and relaxed.

A Note for the Modern Collector

Every mug here is carefully chosen. I don’t just put a famous image on a cup. I spend time finding the right mug to match the spirit of the original artwork. I want you to feel the energy of the brushstroke under your thumb and see the colours just as the artist meant them to be, even after all these years.

It’s about bringing that late-night museum magic into your everyday life.

Welcome to my private gallery. I hope you find something here that means as much to you as it does to me.