Atelier van Lieshout (Dutch) was founded by Joep van Lieshout (Dutch, b.1963) in 1995, and specializes in brightly colored design, architecture, large-scale public works, and polyester objects. Today, the workshop is made up of more than 20 artists and designers whose works can be found in private and public collections around the world. The mission of AVL is to undermine the notion of individual artistic genius by fostering work created in a collaborative environment. Common themes include power, politics, life, and death.