Lukas Bentel Leaves Art Collective MSCHF
The cofounder and chief creative officer departs the viral art group to pursue independent projects.
Updated on Oct. 28, 2026 in Fine Art
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Lukas Bentel has announced his departure from the art collective MSCHF after serving as a cofounder and the founding chief creative officer. He plans to focus his efforts on solo artistic endeavors, commissioned design, and commercial work.
Why it matters
Bentel intends to shift his focus toward creating art that is designed to endure beyond the initial viral moment that defined much of his tenure at the collective. His departure marks a significant leadership transition for the group.
Lukas Bentel contributed to nearly 300 released works during his time at MSCHF. His career there included high-profile projects like the 2022 ATM Leaderboard, which displayed a bank balance reaching $9.5 million.
The players
Lukas Bentel
He is the former cofounder and founding chief creative officer of the art collective MSCHF.
Daniel Greenberg
He is one of the remaining founders who will continue to lead MSCHF operations following Bentel's departure.
Perrotin
This contemporary art gallery represents MSCHF and hosted three exhibitions of the group's work in 2024.
The details
Bentel helped build MSCHF into a cultural force since its inception in 2019, overseeing works that often challenged traditional art market norms. The collective recently expanded its reach by staging three shows at Perrotin gallery locations across Seoul, Los Angeles, and New York in 2024.
Timeline
MSCHF was founded in 2019.
The collective released the Severed Spots project in 2020.
The group presented its ATM Leaderboard at Art Basel Miami Beach in 2022.
MSCHF staged three shows with Perrotin gallery in 2024.
Lukas Bentel announced his departure from the collective in October 2026.
Industry Dynamics
The departure of a cofounder follows the 2025 publication of Made by MSCHF, which codified the group's chaotic artistic output into a single volume. This shift marks a transition for the collective as it moves beyond its initial growth phase and establishes itself within the formal gallery circuit.
Fans can continue to engage with MSCHF projects as the remaining leadership team continues operations. Future works will now reflect the absence of Bentel's creative direction following his shift toward independent endeavors.
The takeaway
The move highlights the common evolution of art collectives as founders transition toward individual practices. Followers of contemporary art can observe how the loss of a founding creative voice impacts the future output of a brand defined by high-concept stunts.
Further reading
For more on the current state of the art world, visit the Fine Art section.
Source note: This article includes information reported by ARTnews.
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