Ou
r Histo
ry
As an up-and-coming creative, Marc Aptakin was given the opportunity to use the space of what was then known as Dorsch Gallery, a beloved place with underground, punk rock vibes that catered to the local artist community. There, Marc was able to develop not just his talents but also his sense of community, inspiring him to pay it forward. In 2016, as part of Mad, a digital and advertising agency, Marc opened Bad Space, a warehouse that provided free access to studio space at 700 W Las Olas Blvd for local artists and creatives. This soon became an outlet for the likes of Jen Clay, Richard Vergez, and other prominent artists who left a mark on the South Florida art scene.
In 2020, Mad acquired a 50,000 sq. ft. building in Dania Beach, Florida, with sufficient space to host other initiatives. It is here where Mad Arts was formalized as an alternative space for exhibitions and experimentation, serving as a convening home for artists and community members to activate it in the form of happenings, screenings, exhibitions, and performances, among others.
Since then, Mad Arts has worked with renowned artists and designers such as Studio McGuire, Adrien M & Claire B, Refik Anadol, NONOTAK, Iregular, Ana María Caballero, Susan Narduli, Anaisa Franco, Cory Van Lew, Sasha Katz, Jen Clay, Gladys Garrote, NINOCENCE, Dolce Paganne, and Jaime Reyes, among others.
Powered by MadLabs, Mad Arts has access to a comprehensive studio with over 17,000 sq. feet of the industry’s most cutting-edge virtual production space, including Dolby Atmos sound studio and Unreal Engine virtual studio, alongside Vicon system, the world’s number one choice in motion capture. This allows Mad Arts to serve as a laboratory for research and development where engineers, architects, and creatives can work alongside artists to produce pieces.