{{Short description|Dutch online art dealership}} {{Use dmy dates|date=January 2025}} {{Infobox company | name = Cook & Becker | logo = | type = [[Privately held company|Private]] | industry = [[Video game industry|Video games]] | fate = | founded = 2011 | founders = {{Unbulleted list|Maarten Brands|Ruben Brands}} | defunct = <!-- {{end date|df=yes|YYYY|MM|DD}} --> | hq_location_city = [[Amsterdam]] | hq_location_country = [[Netherlands]] | key_people = {{Unbulleted list|Maarten Brands|Ruben Brands}} | products = | website = {{URL|cookandbecker.com}} }}

'''Cook & Becker''' is a Netherlands-based art gallery, online store, publisher and design studio specializing in [[digital art]], [[game art design|videogame art]] and [[concept art]]. Founded in 2011, the company is known for its [[fine art]] prints of popular videogames like [[Journey (2012 video game)|''Journey'']], ''[[Mass Effect]]'', ''[[The Last of Us (video game)|The Last of Us]], The Witcher'' and ''[[Ōkami]]''.<ref name="Guardian">[https://www.theguardian.com/technology/gamesblog/2013/jun/28/friday-events-round-up Friday events round-up: art, pub networking, major gaming expos!]. [[The Guardian]] (28 June 2013). Retrieved on 2017-01-26.</ref><ref name="Engadget">[https://www.engadget.com/2015/01/30/cook-and-becker-indie-program-video-game-art/ This art dealer wants to hang an indie game on your wall]. [[Engadget]] (30 January 2015). Retrieved on 2017-01-06.</ref><ref name="Kotaku">[http://kotaku.com/where-to-buy-great-video-game-artwork-1609559519 Where to buy great videogame artwork]. [[Kotaku]] (11 March 2015). Retrieved on 2017-01-06.</ref><ref name="Bild">[http://www.bild.de/spiele/spiele-news/computerspiele/haengen-sie-ihre-games-doch-mal-an-die-wand-43253470.bild.html Hängen Sie Ihre Games doch mal an die Wand!]. [[Bild]] (4 November 2015). Retrieved on 2017-01-26.</ref> and art books about video game icons such as ''Sonic The Hedgehog'' and ''PAC-MAN''.

== Overview == Cook & Becker was founded in 2011 by brothers Maarten and Ruben Brands, with the intention of creating a more prominent position in the contemporary art world for artists in the games and entertainment industry who shape a big part of contemporary visual culture.<ref name="Escapist">Chalk, Andy (17 January 2012) [http://www.escapistmagazine.com/articles/view/features/9340-Suitable-for-Framing Suitable for Framing]. [[Escapist Magazine]]. Retrieved on 2017-01-23.</ref> It has since acquired the rights to produce art prints for many popular video games, including [[The Witcher#Video games|''The Witcher'']], ''[[Mass Effect]]'', ''[[Uncharted 4: A Thief's End]]'', ''[[The Last of Us (video game)|The Last of Us]]'', ''[[Ōkami]]'', [[Destiny (video game)|''Destiny'']], ''[[Bioshock: Infinite]]'', [[Battlefield (video game series)|''ELDEN RING'']] and ''[[Dark Souls]]''.

In October 2011, Cook & Becker organized its first exhibit at Art.Fair/Blooom!, a [[contemporary art]] fair in [[Cologne]], Germany.<ref name="Escapist" /><ref name="candb exhibit">[https://www.candb.com/en/article/2/cook-en-becker-exhibits-at-2011-art-fair-blooom.html Cook & Becker Exhibits at 2011 Art.Fair/Blooom!]{{Dead link|date=July 2020 |bot=InternetArchiveBot |fix-attempted=yes }}. Candb.com. (15 November 2011). Retrieved on 2017-01-29.</ref>

In November 2014, Cook & Becker co-organized the New Horizons exhibition at the [[Fries Museum]]'s first Next Gen Art Event in [[Leeuwarden]], The Netherlands. This exhibition featured the work of various videogame studios, including a touring collection of [[Naughty Dog]] artworks spanning 30 years of game development.<ref name="NGAE">Valentine, Robin. (12 January 2015) [http://www.gamesindustry.biz/articles/2015-01-12-next-gen-art-event-taking-video-game-art-seriously Next Gen Art Event: Putting games in galleries]. [[Eurogamer#Gamesindustry.biz|Gamesindustry.biz]]. Retrieved on 2017-01-06.</ref> Over the years, Cook & Becker contributed to many art shows at various galleries, museums and pop-culture conventions, including a Cyberpunk 2077 exhibit at Lucca Games and Comics in Lucca, Italy in 2024 with Italiian tape artist No Curves.

In 2015, Cook & Becker released a line of prints based on [[SEGA]] retro games with all new artwork by notable artists.<ref name="Verge">[https://www.theverge.com/2015/5/14/8606091/sega-games-posters-art-cook-becker Your favorite Sega games have been turned into wonderful works of art]. [[The Verge]] (14 May 2015). Retrieved on 2017-01-18.</ref><ref name="Dtoid">[https://www.destructoid.com/this-jet-set-radio-print-is-unreal-292246.phtml This Jet Set Radio print is unreal]. [[Destructoid]] (15 May 2015). Retrieved 2017-01-26.</ref> 2015 Also saw the launch of their first art book, ''Killzone Visual Design'', based on the ''[[Killzone (series)|Killzone]]'' series by developer [[Guerrilla Games]]. This release was followed in 2016 by the art book ''120 Years of Vlambeer & Friends. Bringing back arcade since 1896'', about [[Indie game|indie]] game studio [[Vlambeer]].<ref name="Polygon">[http://www.polygon.com/2016/8/9/12417346/indie-developer-plans-art-book-to-celebrate-six-years-making-games Indie developer Vlambeer plans art book to celebrate six years making games]. [[Polygon (website)|Polygon]] (9 August 2016). Retrieved on 2017-01-26.</ref><ref name="Telegraaf">[http://www.telegraaf.nl/digitaal/games/26391065/__Vlambeer_viert_jubileum_met_boek__.html Vlambeer viert jubileum met boek]. [[De Telegraaf]] (11 August 2016). Retrieved on 2017-01-28.</ref> An official [[Sonic the Hedgehog]] art book, ''Sonic the Hedgehog 25th Anniversary Art Book'', which chronicles the series' origin and evolution, was released in April 2017.<ref name="Kotaku 2">[http://kotaku.com/sonic-the-hedgehogs-fancy-coffee-table-art-book-1789751178 Sonic The Hedgehog's Fancy Coffee Table Art Book]. [[Kotaku]] (6 December 2016). Retrieved on 2017-01-18.</ref><ref name="Wired">[https://www.wired.co.uk/gallery/sonic-the-hedgehog-images-anniversary-book Relive your gaming youth with these nostalgic images from Sonic the Hedgehog's anniversary book]. [[Wired UK]] (no date). Retrieved on 2017-01-26.</ref> An official PAC-MAN book ''Birth of an Icon'' was published in 2021.

== Notable videogame art books == * ''Killzone Visual Design'' (hc, 208 pages, 2015, {{ISBN|978-90-824576-0-5}}) * ''120 Years of Vlambeer and Friends. Bringing back arcade games since 1896'' (pb, 176 pages, 2016, {{ISBN|978-90-824576-3-6}}) * ''Sonic the Hedgehog 25th Anniversary Art Book'' (hc, 248 pages, 2017, {{ISBN|978-90-824576-5-0}}) * ''The Art & Design of FINAL FANTASY XV'' (hc, 220 pages, 2017, {{ISBN|978-90-824576-6-7}}) * ''PAC-MAN: Birth of an Icon'' (hc, 336 pages, 2021, {{ISBN|9781789099393}}) * World of Tanks: Journey Through Art (hc, 256 pages, 2025 {{ISBN|9781789099393}})

== References == {{Reflist}}

== External links == * {{Official website|cookandbecker.com}}

{{DEFAULTSORT:Cook and Becker}} [[Category:Companies based in Amsterdam]] [[Category:Digital art]] [[Category:Dutch companies established in 2011]] [[Category:Publishing companies established in 2011]] [[Category:Video game art]]