Preserve the Work. Protect the Artist. Power the Legacy.
The trusted record
of your work
should begin with you.
The Art Legacy Institute is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit dedicated to protecting artistic legacy through education, documentation, provenance development, and research.
Founded by retired members of the FBI Art Crime Team, ALI was created to help artists protect and preserve their legacies — through professional documentation, provenance development, education, research, and the long-term stewardship of their work.
From the Founders
Why Documentation Matters
A Well-Documented Body of Work Is a Protected Body of Work
After decades investigating art crime, the founders of ALI recognized a simple truth: the same practice that strengthens provenance, helps protect against copyright infringement and unauthorized reproduction, and deters fraud is the one historians, museums, galleries, and scholars have long advocated—a well-documented body of work created by the artist. That record is the foundation of an enduring artistic legacy. It also gives collectors greater confidence in the works they acquire, helping living artists build trust in the marketplace and strengthen the value of their work over time.
ALI’s Flagship Service
The Legacy Catalog
The Legacy Catalog is a practical, technological expression of ALI’s nonprofit mission. It gives living artists a structured, secure, and enduring way to document their bodies of work and preserve the records of their creative careers — created and maintained in their own voices, available on desktop and mobile.
ALI’s work extends beyond the Legacy Catalog through the Learning Center, ongoing research, provenance development, institutional collaboration, advocacy, and stewardship guidance — a full range of programs in service of the broader mission.
Explore the Legacy CatalogOur Foundation
What Guides Our Work
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Artist-First
Artists are the primary stewards of their legacies. Our role is to support, never replace, their voice.
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Institutional Rigor
Our standards reflect decades of investigative experience and are built to earn trust across institutions and generations.
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Accessible by Design
Legacy protection should not be a luxury. We create tools that are useful, understandable, and within reach.
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Careful Stewardship
We treat every record, every story, and every artist’s trust with the respect it deserves.