Eric Portelli, principal of Art'ki Corporation... A Design Collaborative, began his career by traveling, soaking up culture and working overseas with family in the construction industry.  After a time abroad, he decided to return to The United States and pursue an architectural education. 

 

He indulged in various programs in various cities, and Eric achieved a Bachelor of Architecture from the University of Hawai'i in 1998.  Graduating was a great academic accomplishment, but the true learning of his architectural craft would come by being mentored by various architectural firms located in Seattle, San Diego, and Los Angeles.   As with any adventurous endeavor he decided to establish his own design build firm in Venice, California in 2003 and pursue his own thought process in art and architecture.

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In 2006 he realized that architectural intent as designed could not be processed properly unless a great builder was also involved.  So he focused on the next evolving part of his career by constantly understanding construction practices and became a licensed contractor #890047 and expanded his company Art'ki by including the Design/Build concept. 

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This allowed him to be in close contact with the client’s needs and style.  Ultimately, design decisions would be explored as a team effort and this exploration of design and team play would ultimately be the next phase of his continuing education.

 

Interior design was a crucial step to the ultimate finished product, especially in trying to pull out the clients design sense in achieving their vision.  As a design/build firm Eric was now capable of incorporating all facets of the trades.  Architectural, interior design and construction.

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To take things one step further, Eric had stumbled on art as another medium that could be applied to his firm.  After doing various speculation design/build projects, he realized that furnishing and staging the projects was just another crucial step in completing the A to Z process.  So he developed his own art sense and style and started exploring this new avenue by creating his own art pieces and designing specific furnishings. 

 

The process of learning, knowing where to go, who to call and the nomenclature involved in the industry is a never ending enjoyment for him.  He feels that you can never know everything and learning is part of the great experince involved in architecture.   

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