DUBAI, UAE, SYDNEY and NEW DELHI, Jan. 26, 2026 /PRNewswire/ -- An entertainment and creative arts lawyer's bold vision for a revolutionary online art auction platform, Lloyds Auctions, launched on January 1, 2026, and has already secured over $1 billion in committed art listings, including more than 3000 pieces within its first few weeks, positioning it as one of the fastest-growing art-tech platforms in history.
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 Frustrated by the art world's outdated, old-world system – high fees, invitation-only sales, and persistent integrity issues – he developed a game-changing idea: a digital-first platform that does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.
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The Billion Dollar Brushstroke: Attorney's art platform secures $1B+ in committed listings in first month - positioned for rapid growth.
The Billion Dollar Brushstroke: Attorney's art platform secures $1B+ in committed listings in first month - positioned for rapid growth.
The Billion Dollar Brushstroke: Attorney's art platform secures $1B+ in committed listings in first month - positioned for rapid growth.
The Billion Dollar Brushstroke: Attorney's art platform secures $1B+ in committed listings in first month - positioned for rapid growth.
The Billion Dollar Brushstroke: Attorney's art platform secures $1B+ in committed listings in first month - positioned for rapid growth.
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.
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 MF 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 blue-chip 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."
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.
Discover the platform and view the current auction at lloydsauctions.com/art
About:
The platform launched on January 1, 2026, with major investment from leading online auction house Lloyds Auctions, the platform is a digital-first global marketplace for fine art, combining expert curation, rigorous independent written authentication, and an intuitive interface to make buying and selling art seamless, transparent, and accessible to everyone.
** The press release content is from PR Newswire. Bastille Post is not involved in its creation. **
The Billion Dollar Brushstroke: Attorney's art platform secures $1B+ in committed listings in first month - positioned for rapid growth.
The Billion Dollar Brushstroke: Attorney's art platform secures $1B+ in committed listings in first month - positioned for rapid growth.
The Billion Dollar Brushstroke: Attorney's art platform secures $1B+ in committed listings in first month - positioned for rapid growth.
The Billion Dollar Brushstroke: Attorney's art platform secures $1B+ in committed listings in first month - positioned for rapid growth.
The Billion Dollar Brushstroke: Attorney's art platform secures $1B+ in committed listings in first month - positioned for rapid growth.
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Dr. Lu to lead and expand the Institute's engagement efforts in Asia
LOS ANGELES and SINGAPORE, Jan. 26, 2026 /PRNewswire/ -- Global think tank the Milken Institute today announced the appointment of Dr. Kevin Lu as Chair of Asia. Dr. Lu brings decades of experience in the investment and public policy world, including his current role as Partner, Chairman of Asia, and member of the Global Executive Board at Partners Group, as well as his past role in leading the World Bank Group's Multilateral Investment Guarantee Agency as Director and Chief Financial Officer. Dr. Lu also serves as a Lecturer of Management at Yale School of Management and an Adjunct Professor of Finance at Columbia Business School, teaching graduate courses on private equity and society.
Robin Hu will be become Chairman Emeritus after serving his two-year tenure as Chair of Asia. Hu will continue as a member of the Board of Directors at the Milken Institute Asia Center and will serve in a senior advisory capacity.
Dr. Lu has been involved with Milken Institute's Asia headquarters since its inception, supporting the Institute's programmatic efforts in Asia and around the world. Now taking over as Chair of Asia, Dr. Lu will continue to provide strategic counsel to the Institute's leadership and collaborate with its Asia headquarters to drive the next era of impact, growth and expansion in the region.
"Over the years, the Milken Institute has benefited tremendously from Kevin's expertise and guidance in his capacity as Senior Fellow, and we are lucky to have him as our Chair of Asia. I'm extremely grateful to Robin for his two-year service and leadership as Chairman, which have been so valuable to the Institute and to me as the Executive Vice President of International," said Laura Deal Lacey, Executive Vice President of International at the Milken Institute. "I am excited to continue our partnership with Kevin in his new capacity. With his unparalleled depth and diversity of experience, as well as his extensive connections, I am confident that he will lead our Asia practice to new heights as we continue to grow from strength to strength."
Partners Group has been a long-time collaborator of the Milken Institute. In 2021, the two organizations jointly launched a high-impact and immersive internship program that offers wide exposure and hands-on experience in finance and investment management to undergraduate and graduate students in Singapore. The internship program is slated to welcome its sixth cohort of interns in the summer of 2026.
"In the past decades that I have been with the Milken Institute, it has undertaken substantial growth, bringing its flagship convenings to key markets around the world, from Tokyo, Seoul, Hong Kong (SAR), to London, Abu Dhabi, Mexico, Sao Paolo, and more," said Dr. Kevin Lu, Asia Chair, Milken Institute. "I am honored and humbled to be appointed as the Milken Institute's Chair of Asia, and I look forward to working with the Milken Institute leadership team in the United States and Asia team in Singapore to forge a path of success in the new global landscape."
About the Milken Institute
The Milken Institute is a nonprofit, nonpartisan think tank focused on accelerating measurable progress on the path to a meaningful life. With a focus on financial, physical, mental and environmental health, we bring together the best ideas and innovative resourcing to develop blueprints for tackling some of our most critical global issues through the lens of what's pressing now and what's coming next. For more information, visit www.milkeninstitute.org.
Dr. Lu to lead and expand the Institute's engagement efforts in Asia
LOS ANGELES and SINGAPORE, Jan. 26, 2026 /PRNewswire/ -- Global think tank the Milken Institute today announced the appointment of Dr. Kevin Lu as Chair of Asia. Dr. Lu brings decades of experience in the investment and public policy world, including his current role as Partner, Chairman of Asia, and member of the Global Executive Board at Partners Group, as well as his past role in leading the World Bank Group's Multilateral Investment Guarantee Agency as Director and Chief Financial Officer. Dr. Lu also serves as a Lecturer of Management at Yale School of Management and an Adjunct Professor of Finance at Columbia Business School, teaching graduate courses on private equity and society.
Robin Hu will be become Chairman Emeritus after serving his two-year tenure as Chair of Asia. Hu will continue as a member of the Board of Directors at the Milken Institute Asia Center and will serve in a senior advisory capacity.
Dr. Lu has been involved with Milken Institute's Asia headquarters since its inception, supporting the Institute's programmatic efforts in Asia and around the world. Now taking over as Chair of Asia, Dr. Lu will continue to provide strategic counsel to the Institute's leadership and collaborate with its Asia headquarters to drive the next era of impact, growth and expansion in the region.
"Over the years, the Milken Institute has benefited tremendously from Kevin's expertise and guidance in his capacity as Senior Fellow, and we are lucky to have him as our Chair of Asia. I'm extremely grateful to Robin for his two-year service and leadership as Chairman, which have been so valuable to the Institute and to me as the Executive Vice President of International," said Laura Deal Lacey, Executive Vice President of International at the Milken Institute. "I am excited to continue our partnership with Kevin in his new capacity. With his unparalleled depth and diversity of experience, as well as his extensive connections, I am confident that he will lead our Asia practice to new heights as we continue to grow from strength to strength."
Partners Group has been a long-time collaborator of the Milken Institute. In 2021, the two organizations jointly launched a high-impact and immersive internship program that offers wide exposure and hands-on experience in finance and investment management to undergraduate and graduate students in Singapore. The internship program is slated to welcome its sixth cohort of interns in the summer of 2026.
"In the past decades that I have been with the Milken Institute, it has undertaken substantial growth, bringing its flagship convenings to key markets around the world, from Tokyo, Seoul, Hong Kong (SAR), to London, Abu Dhabi, Mexico, Sao Paolo, and more," said Dr. Kevin Lu, Asia Chair, Milken Institute. "I am honored and humbled to be appointed as the Milken Institute's Chair of Asia, and I look forward to working with the Milken Institute leadership team in the United States and Asia team in Singapore to forge a path of success in the new global landscape."
About the Milken Institute
The Milken Institute is a nonprofit, nonpartisan think tank focused on accelerating measurable progress on the path to a meaningful life. With a focus on financial, physical, mental and environmental health, we bring together the best ideas and innovative resourcing to develop blueprints for tackling some of our most critical global issues through the lens of what's pressing now and what's coming next. For more information, visit www.milkeninstitute.org.
** The press release content is from PR Newswire. Bastille Post is not involved in its creation. **
Milken Institute Announces Dr. Kevin Lu As New Asia Chair
