Discover the Netflix art curator who's a key player in the industry.

• Yvonne Force Villareal, a longtime arts entrepreneur, has licensed big-name work for shows on Netflix, real estate, and public art projects through her Culture Corps firm.
• She and her business partner Doreen Remen sourced art for the reboot of "Gossip Girl" as if it were for a private client's home, according to Force Villareal.
• Culture Corps also curates artwork for luxury hotels and other real estate projects.

Many most-watched lists featured "Gossip Girl," "Billions," and "Inventing Anna," and their characters gained popularity.

They helped give rise to a burgeoning industry: art placement, while wowing audiences on platforms like Netflix and Showtime.

To obtain artwork for "Inventing Anna," Shonda Rhimes enlisted the help of Culture Corps, an art consultancy.

Yvonne Force Villareal, co-founder of Culture Corps, explained how they collaborate with British artist Cecily Brown to create precise reproductions of her art using high-res images. This technique was used in the production of "Billions," and the result is a perfect replica of the piece.

In the early seasons of "Billions," viewers may have recognized the work of renowned artists such as Jean-Michel Basquiat, Gregory Crewdson, and Carla Klein at the headquarters of Axe Capital, the hedge fund owned by Bobby "Axe" Axelrod, portrayed by Damian Lewis.

For years, Villareal has been a well-known figure in the art world. After earning a degree in fine art from the esteemed Rhode Island School of Design, she worked in New York City galleries alongside notable individuals such as art collector "Baby" Jane Holzer, one of Andy Warhol's "superstars." Eventually, she established an art advisory firm that gained the support of early backers like Laurance Rockefeller.

In 2000, Force Villareal and Doreen Remen founded the Art Production Fund, a non-profit commissioning public artworks, and later started Culture Corps in 2014.

The firm's initial attempt to showcase art in exhibitions was through the reboot of "Gossip Girl," which was initiated by Remen through her industry connections. The firm treated sourcing artwork for the show as if it were for a private client's home, according to Force Villareal.

She stated that we would collaborate with the set designer and comprehend the character residing in that set.

Lucien Smith's contemporary piece with blue tones reflects the sky through the window of Julien Calloway's Tribeca home in "Gossip Girl" season one. Other locations showcase work by Candida Hofer and Neo Rauch.

In addition to communicating directly with artists, Culture Corps collaborates with other IP owners, such as estates or the Artists Rights Society, to license work. Contracts stipulate that any replicas created must be either destroyed or returned to the artists following their use in a show.

Villareal stated that there is no risk of work being introduced into the market.

As a student, Villareal was inspired by the work of big-name artists such as Cindy Sherman and Barbara Kruger, as well as New York City-founded feminist group the Guerilla Girls, all of whom gave her a sense of conviction for her own career. "Yes, I'm going to do this," was the feeling she had, she said.

In 2018, gallerists Paul Kasmin and Danny Moynihan invited Force Villareal to curate a summer exhibition, which she titled "Seed," featuring female artists such as Hein Koh and sculptor Sarah Peters.

""The inspiration behind 'Seed' was the aging process and how ageism affects women, which is a topic that isn't discussed as much in our society," she stated."

In 2022, Culture Corps received certification from the Women's Business Enterprise National Council and in September, Force Villareal spoke at a Women's Power Series event aimed at increasing female participation in the arts, organized by real estate developer Dayssi Olarte de Kanavos.

Real estate is also a significant aspect of Culture Corps' work, with the company providing art for hotels such as the Ritz-Carlton New York, NoMad, including original works for common spaces and licensing pieces for bedrooms.

In addition to the 360 Rosemary building in West Palm Beach, Florida, which houses Goldman Sachs and BlackRock offices, the firm also acquired a vibrant sculpture by British artist Yinka Shonibare to be placed nearby.

"If artists want to expand their studio practice and reach new audiences, TV is a great way to do so, as it allows them to showcase their art to millions of people," said Force Villareal.