At CNTRFLD, our mission is to foster communication and cultural exchange by bridging the worlds of art and design. Rooted in the craft of printmaking, yet embracing contemporary digital mediums, we create meaningful dialogues that connect creative communities worldwide.
As an extension of the globally renowned art publication CENTREFOLD, CNTRFLD operates through two distinct platforms:
CNTRFLD.ART is a non-profit community dedicated to supporting and amplifying the voices of East and Southeast Asian artists and their diaspora. We bring together pioneering, experimental talents in contemporary art, fostering meaningful connections and producing beautifully crafted content that raises awareness of the growing influence of Asian artists worldwide.
CNTRFLD.STUDIO is a design and creative agency that collaborates with leading global organisations to craft compelling visual narratives. With a deep-rooted heritage in printmaking, we create high-end art publications and limited edition prints as part of our commitment to preserving the integrity of fine art publishing. We extend this expertise to our work with clients, producing striking digital and print content that strengthens brand identity and fosters authentic audience engagement. By merging artistic innovation with strategic insight, we deliver impactful storytelling across multiple platforms.
Our approach is shaped by the belief that culture is integral to community, work, and connections. We unite pioneering creatives from fashion, art, and design to produce beautifully executed content that communicates a strong, cohesive brand message. Combining artistry with strategic thinking, we offer end-to-end services, focusing on visually striking imagery and multiplatform content that resonates with diverse audiences.
– Brand Strategy
– Creative Direction
– Art Direction
– Graphic Design
– Publishing
– Moving Image & Stills Production
– Digital Media
– Exhibitions & Collaborations
WHO WE ARE
ANDREW HOBBS
Founder, CENTREFOLD Magazine
Partner, CNTRFLD
Andrew Hobbs launched CENTREFOLD in 2001 with Warren Beeby, then Creative Director of Spin. In 2003, they debuted Issue 01 of CENTREFOLD Magazine, with Andrew later assuming the role of Executive Creative Director. Over the years, he has collaborated with esteemed design agencies and led an in-house team between London and New York.
Alongside his publishing work, Andrew has maintained an active career in photography and design, contributing to magazines such as i-D, Interview, Monocle, Rolling Stone, and Vogue, and working with brands including Globe-Trotter, Louis Vuitton, Mackintosh, and Nike. His creative direction portfolio includes projects for ABASK, AREA, Calvin Klein, Comme des Garçons, and Jil Sander.
CENTREFOLD achieved a milestone with Issue 04, winning "Best Magazine of the Year," as judged by industry luminaries including Peter Saville and the late Wim Crouwel.
MARIA CHEN
Partner, CNTRFLD
Maria Chen began her career in fashion, shaped by a deep connection to music and contemporary art. As an early advocate for gender-inclusive style, she pioneered innovative textile techniques, upcycling, and reconstruction in her eponymous brand, launched in the late 1990s. Her distinctive, timeless aesthetic set her apart in the industry.
Awarded the Hermès Menswear Bursary in the early 1990s, Maria earned an MA from Central Saint Martins under the mentorship of Louise Wilson (OBE) and later pursued a doctorate at the Royal College of Art. She became the first Taiwanese woman to receive the British Fashion Council’s NewGen award at London Fashion Week in the early 2000s, cementing her influence in fashion and design.
Maria has collaborated with global brands including Calvin Klein, Gap, Adidas, Armani, and French Connection. She has also worked alongside visionary female designers such as Rebekka Bay and Phoebe Philo, whose feminist, minimalist, and modern aesthetics strongly resonate with her own design philosophy. As a mentor and illustrator, she continues to refine her distinctive approach while guiding emerging creatives.
Recognising the importance of amplifying East and Southeast Asian contemporary art—especially the diasporic experience—she co-founded CNTRFLD with Andrew Hobbs in 2022, extending her practice into fine art publishing and cultural discourse. In 2024, she joined the Board of Trustees at esea contemporary, reinforcing her commitment to fostering representation and dialogue in the arts.
With a sharp curatorial eye and a dedication to bridging design and art, Maria collaborates with brands, galleries, and institutions to create meaningful, visually compelling narratives.
CNTRFLD.ART ADVISORY BOARD
PAUL DAVIES
With a multicultural background, spanning ASEAN countries, Paul Davies is an accomplished writer and editor with contributions to Arena Homme Plus, HighSnobiety, i-D, Sunday Times Style, Tank, V/V Man & Visionaire, Vogue UK, and Wallpaper*. His consultancy, Argot, has provided strategic insights for Aesop, Dover Street Market, Mercedes-Benz, and Prada's ephemeral Double Club. Paul finds his greatest inspiration when returning to Southeast Asia.
SALLY LAI
Sally Lai’s career is defined by international collaboration, working as a curator, consultant, and writer between the UK and Asia. She has held roles at Factory International/Manchester International Festival and the Robert H. N. Ho Family Foundation Global. Previously, she was Director of the Centre for Chinese Contemporary Art (2008-2014) and worked with Firstsite, Arts Council England, London 2012, the Future Generation Art Prize, Samsung Art Prize, The Collection, and the Wellcome Collection. Sally has served on boards including Attenborough Arts Centre and the Atlantic Project and is a Clore Leadership Fellow and Stanford University alumna. She holds an MA in Curating from Goldsmiths, University of London.
SEBASTIEN MONTABONEL
Sébastien Montabonel is the founder and co-chair of AI21C (Art Institutions of the 21st Century) and CEO of The Island. Through his advisory firm, Montabonel & Partners, he has guided governments and global organizations on cultural strategy. He previously built one of Europe's leading private collections of minimal and conceptual art and has curated seminal exhibitions, founded institutions, and hosted influential think tanks. A guest lecturer and publisher, he established Alaska Editions in 2007 and contributes to art publications and selection panels for international art prizes.
Artwork by Echo Morgan
For more information, partnerships and collaborations, please contact us at hello@cntrfld.art
At CNTRFLD, our mission is to foster communication and cultural exchange by bridging the worlds of art and design. Rooted in the craft of printmaking, yet embracing contemporary digital mediums, we create meaningful dialogues that connect creative communities worldwide.
As an extension of the globally renowned art publication CENTREFOLD, CNTRFLD operates through two distinct platforms:
CNTRFLD.ART is a non-profit community dedicated to supporting and amplifying the voices of East and Southeast Asian artists and their diaspora. We bring together pioneering, experimental talents in contemporary art, fostering meaningful connections and producing beautifully crafted content that raises awareness of the growing influence of Asian artists worldwide.
CNTRFLD.STUDIO is a design and creative agency that collaborates with leading global organisations to craft compelling visual narratives. With a deep-rooted heritage in printmaking, we create high-end art publications and limited edition prints as part of our commitment to preserving the integrity of fine art publishing. We extend this expertise to our work with clients, producing striking digital and print content that strengthens brand identity and fosters authentic audience engagement. By merging artistic innovation with strategic insight, we deliver impactful storytelling across multiple platforms.
Our approach is shaped by the belief that culture is integral to community, work, and connections. We unite pioneering creatives from fashion, art, and design to produce beautifully executed content that communicates a strong, cohesive brand message. Combining artistry with strategic thinking, we offer end-to-end services, focusing on visually striking imagery and multiplatform content that resonates with diverse audiences.
– Brand Strategy
– Creative Direction
– Art Direction
– Graphic Design
– Publishing
– Moving Image & Stills Production
– Digital Media
– Exhibitions & Collaborations
WHO WE ARE
ANDREW HOBBS
Founder, CENTREFOLD Magazine
Partner, CNTRFLD
Andrew Hobbs launched CENTREFOLD in 2001 with Warren Beeby, then Creative Director of Spin. In 2003, they debuted Issue 01 of CENTREFOLD Magazine, with Andrew later assuming the role of Executive Creative Director. Over the years, he has collaborated with esteemed design agencies and led an in-house team between London and New York.
Alongside his publishing work, Andrew has maintained an active career in photography and design, contributing to magazines such as i-D, Interview, Monocle, Rolling Stone, and Vogue, and working with brands including Globe-Trotter, Louis Vuitton, Mackintosh, and Nike. His creative direction portfolio includes projects for ABASK, AREA, Calvin Klein, Comme des Garçons, French Connection, and Jil Sander.
CENTREFOLD achieved a milestone with Issue 04, winning "Best Magazine of the Year," as judged by industry luminaries including Peter Saville and the late Wim Crouwel.
MARIA CHEN
Partner, CNTRFLD
Maria Chen began her career in fashion, shaped by a deep connection to music and contemporary art. As an early advocate for gender-inclusive style, she pioneered innovative textile techniques, upcycling, and reconstruction in her eponymous brand, launched in the late 1990s. Her distinctive, timeless aesthetic set her apart in the industry.
Awarded the Hermès Menswear Bursary in the early 1990s, Maria earned an MA from Central Saint Martins under the mentorship of Louise Wilson (OBE) and later pursued a doctorate at the Royal College of Art. She became the first Taiwanese woman to receive the British Fashion Council’s NewGen award at London Fashion Week in the early 2000s, cementing her influence in fashion and design.
Maria has collaborated with global brands including Calvin Klein, Gap, Adidas, Armani, and French Connection. She has also worked alongside visionary female designers such as Rebekka Bay and Phoebe Philo, whose feminist, minimalist, and modern aesthetics strongly resonate with her own design philosophy. As a mentor and illustrator, she continues to refine her distinctive approach while guiding emerging creatives.
Recognising the importance of amplifying East and Southeast Asian contemporary art—especially the diasporic experience—she co-founded CNTRFLD with Andrew Hobbs in 2022, extending her practice into fine art publishing and cultural discourse. In 2024, she joined the Board of Trustees at esea contemporary, reinforcing her commitment to fostering representation and dialogue in the arts.
With a sharp curatorial eye and a dedication to bridging design and art, Maria collaborates with brands, galleries, and institutions to create meaningful, visually compelling narratives.
ADVISORY BOARD
PAUL DAVIES
With a multicultural background, spanning ASEAN countries, Paul Davies is an accomplished writer and editor with contributions to Arena Homme Plus, HighSnobiety, i-D, Sunday Times Style, Tank, V/V Man & Visionaire, Vogue UK, and Wallpaper*. His consultancy, Argot, has provided strategic insights for Aesop, Dover Street Market, Mercedes-Benz, and Prada's ephemeral Double Club. Paul finds his greatest inspiration when returning to Southeast Asia.
SALLY LAI
Sally Lai’s career is defined by international collaboration, working as a curator, consultant, and writer between the UK and Asia. She has held roles at Factory International/Manchester International Festival and the Robert H. N. Ho Family Foundation Global. Previously, she was Director of the Centre for Chinese Contemporary Art (2008-2014) and worked with Firstsite, Arts Council England, London 2012, the Future Generation Art Prize, Samsung Art Prize, The Collection, and the Wellcome Collection. Sally has served on boards including Attenborough Arts Centre and the Atlantic Project and is a Clore Leadership Fellow and Stanford University alumna. She holds an MA in Curating from Goldsmiths, University of London.
SEBASTIEN MONTABONEL
Sébastien Montabonel is the founder and co-chair of AI21C (Art Institutions of the 21st Century) and CEO of The Island. Through his advisory firm, Montabonel & Partners, he has guided governments and global organizations on cultural strategy. He previously built one of Europe's leading private collections of minimal and conceptual art and has curated seminal exhibitions, founded institutions, and hosted influential think tanks. A guest lecturer and publisher, he established Alaska Editions in 2007 and contributes to art publications and selection panels for international art prizes.
Artwork by Echo Morgan
For more information, partnerships and collaborations, please contact us at hello@cntrfld.art