Art comes in many different shapes and sizes – large, small, heavy, and sometimes awkward. For pieces that are upwards of hundreds and even thousands of pounds, installations require special equipment and a team of experts to ensure the art is safe and secure. We’ve gathered a few factors that must be considered when installing heavy fine art pieces:
Selecting the Right Location
When selecting the right location for your heavier fine art piece, it’s best to plan ahead and prepare the site in advance. It’s important to be mindful of the climate that your piece will require to ensure it’s well protected. When it comes to heavier pieces, it’s crucial to follow the recommendations of an expert art handler who will give you the best advice on where to display your art.
Building a Foundation
The foundation that your piece rests on is crucial. The size of your foundation depends on the size of the art, so in turn, larger, heavier pieces will require a larger and stronger foundation. Other factors to consider when choosing a foundation include how you want your art to be displayed and the climate that the piece will reside in. Very large sculptures will also require a concrete professional who may reinforce the foundation with steel rods. A team of expert art handlers will work with you in designing the right foundation for your piece prior to installation.
Lifting the Artwork
It can take more than a few extra hands to lift and move heavy artwork. Larger pieces require the use of heavy machinery such as cranes or rigging equipment to carefully place the piece in its desired location. This is why selecting the right location in advance is so important – heavy art pieces require the big guns! Expert art handlers will be sure to help you find the right location so that the piece will not need to be moved more than once.
Conquering Challenges
Sometimes larger, awkward pieces can present challenges when it comes to installation. Furthermore, the location of where the piece will be displayed can create some roadblocks along the way as well. Larger heights, stairwells, and other complex situations can stand in the way of your vision for your piece. Luckily, art handlers like our team at Art Work FAS are experts when it comes to finding solutions to installation challenges. We have years of experience handling heavy, priceless pieces, and we are extremely confident in the work we do for our partners and clients.
Hiring Expert Art Handlers
For nearly 30 years, Art Work Fine Art Services has served as the trusted logistics partner to some of America’s most highly-regarded museums, galleries, collectors, and artists. We specialize in expert and custom solutions for domestic and international shipping, warehousing, and preservation of artwork.
Our team is made up of passionate experts in many mediums, including design, painting, printmaking, carpentry, photography, and sculpture. Art Work FAS offers services in Portland and Seattle, in addition to California’s Bay Area and Silicon Valley, Los Angeles, New York City, and across the Rocky Mountains.
To request an estimate or find out more about the services Art Work Fine Art Services offers, contact us.