Concept Art House

Concept Art House, now operating as Concept Labs, functions as a distinguished art services and content development firm that has strategically evolved since its inception. Founded in 2007 by James Zhang, the company initially established itself as a premier art outsourcing partner for the video game industry. Zhang, a concept artist who studied at Ringling College of Art and Design, started his career at LucasArts before transitioning into an entrepreneur, bootstrapping the company with a small team in Shanghai. His journey from an artist to a CEO was marked by the challenge of shifting from creative direction to managing a rapidly growing business, which expanded from six employees to over 130 by 2012.

The company's business model originally centered on providing high-quality 2D and 3D art, animation, and VFX for AAA and mobile game developers. Its client roster includes industry giants such as Activision/Blizzard, Epic Games, Supercell, Riot Games, and Tencent, contributing to over 1,000 shipped games, including renowned franchises like Fortnite, League of Legends, Call of Duty, and World of Warcraft. This service-based revenue stream was built on creating visual assets, from character design to in-game art, for major publishers.

In a significant strategic pivot, the firm has redirected its focus exclusively to the Web3 and non-fungible token (NFT) market. Now named Concept Labs, the company leverages its deep roots in gaming and digital art to create and publish NFT projects and digital collectibles for prominent brands and intellectual property holders. This transition was solidified by a $25 million Series A funding round in October 2021, with participation from key players in the blockchain space like Dapper Labs and Animoca Brands. The new capital is intended to expand the team, build an NFT vault, and secure licensing deals. Under the name Concept Labs, the mission is to connect brands with their fans through digital goods that offer unique experiences and utility. The firm now provides end-to-end solutions, from licensing and creating digital artworks to minting and selling NFTs, often in partnership with platforms like Gala Games.

Keywords: art outsourcing, game art development, 2D art, 3D assets, VFX, animation, Web3 services, NFT creation, digital collectibles, blockchain entertainment, play-to-earn, move-to-earn, digital asset publisher, entertainment software, creative services, Frank Miller, Dapper Labs, Gala Games, Animoca Brands, James Zhang