Established in 1972 by Marshall Didier, MFA is one of the most trusted names in fine art storage and logistics on Long Island. Before he founded MFA, Marshall began as an art teacher, and was (and still is) an accomplished artist himself. At the time, if an artist, collector, gallery, or museum on Long Island wanted to transport art, they needed to rely on companies based in New York City, which were both expensive and inconvenient. As an artist himself, Marshall understood this better than most, and sensing an opportunity to provide a much-needed service to the Long Island art community, began building MFA from the ground up.
In the beginning, he was a one man company, running the business out of his own house. His basement became a crating workshop, and his dining room became a storage unit. He purchased a van for transporting art, and began to make a name for himself as a capable and trustworthy art handler and installer. He went on to develop and modify a truck with insulation, air-ride suspension, and cargo control, ensuring added safety for fragile pieces. The fleet continued to grow year after year as well as the professionally trained crew members.
As MFA’s reputation grew, Marshall began to gain clients in the city as well as on the island, working with some of the most prestigious institutions in the country. In 1978, Mitch was able to move his business out of his home and began renting MFA’s first office space. In the following years, MFA’s expertise became widely respected within the fine arts community, and the team was even brought on by other companies to consult on complicated rigging jobs. Today, over fifty years after its creation, the company is based In Deer Park, NY, and has expanded to over two dozen staff members experienced in the transport, storage, packing, crating, and installation of fine art.
