How to Display Art in a Gallery

14 Apr How to Display Art in a Gallery

Gallery curators put in a lot of effort to make sure their gallery looks its best at all times.

Because the careful display of artwork is not just about paying tribute to the work itself – it’s critical for generating sales. A potential buyer’s ability to experience the art in its best light (both figuratively and literally) has a huge impact on their interest in purchasing the piece.

And when it comes to purchasing, if you’re asking for a high price for a piece of art, it’s important that the venue where the work is shown is commensurate with the value of the work.

Let’s explore some of the considerations gallery curators make when displaying artwork. Many of these principles apply not just to galleries, but also art festivals or open studio tours.

Space

Space is one of the most important factors when displaying art. It’s important to give the artwork room to ‘breathe’, and also to give the viewer room to step back and view the work from different perspectives.

While it can be tempting to display as many works as you can, cramming too many artworks in one space ruins the experience of them all. It makes it difficult for the viewer to focus on any single piece, which diminishes the details of individual works.

Flow

Traffic flow is another substantial consideration for the gallery owner seeking to display and sell art. There needs to be a balance between guiding the visitor flow while also inviting them to explore the space on their own terms.

If you are showing one particular theme or artist, or participating in a show, consider the narrative flow of your display space. Modular walls can greatly assist in guiding traffic flow in a gallery space, as well as other exhibitions.

Most gallery owners want a flexible display space that can be modified when needed. At POD Services, our specially designed POD Wall System is flexible and can be used to create a limitless range of configurations within your gallery space.

It’s also easy to install, requiring no hardware or power tools to assemble, and does not need fixing to internal walls.

Lighting

Consider what mood you wish to convey – drama or calm? Do you want to spark creativity, or promote quiet contemplation?

The right lighting is a critical element for setting the scene within your art display space. Seeing a piece of art with the right lighting can make the difference between a sale or a pass. Too little light and the piece will not stand out… too much and it will become washed out and lose its vibrancy.

When lighting a piece of art, the goal is to create an even light across the work’s surface. Hot spots can occur when there’s too much light on one area. They can also damage the work itself. LED technology has advanced in recent years, offering better light with less heat and lower energy use than before.

The Frank Showcase System is a conservation-grade, highly customisable system that allows a range of lighting configurations to suit your needs. It features an LED lamp system with a downlight spot, continuous edge lighting and more. Lights can swivel, are low heat, long life and adjustable.

For softer, diffused light, the Frank Showcase System has an easily-installed LED light panel that casts soft, even light on artworks.

Where to get more information

Showcasing artwork can be an art in itself… and it’s important to work with experts who know what they’re doing.

POD Services have 20 years of collection service experience and have worked with museums, art galleries and exhibitors Australia-wide to ensure their works are expertly stored, handled, and displayed.

Our Frank Showcase System and POD Display Wall Systems are loved by gallery curators who are looking for versatile and high-quality display systems that are both easy to install and affordable.

To discuss your gallery’s display needs, give us a call on 03 9588 0436.