Preserving and Protecting Art While Installing, Shipping, and Storing

The biggest mistakes people make when trying to ship and store artwork by themselves are using inadequate packing materials, protection, or the wrong hardware. 

With extensive field experience, Art Work Fine Art Services’ team knows the ins-and-outs of how to protect your unique piece of art so that it will make it to the desired destination intact and ready to be put on display just as the artist intended. Below is a list of things to keep in mind as your collection begins to grow:

Install 

Installation is perhaps the most stressful part of owning artwork. It’s no secret that during this step, for the untrained or non-professional, anything can go wrong – from not using the right hardware to hang a piece to hanging it in an inherently unsafe place. 

At Art Work FAS, we work to ensure the safest possible installation and have successfully done this for decades with thousands of pieces. We take into account the size, weight, and medium of the artwork to determine the appropriate hardware needed to successfully and safely display a piece. 

And if your collection grows or you need one piece or one hundred pieces relocated – we can handle that too.

Ship 

When it comes to artwork, certain pieces can safely make it to their destination if they are effectively softpacked and transported via art carrier. Some pieces may also require custom crating as an added protection. If you have pieces arriving from overseas, make sure you have the proper crate size with wood, foam, and a vapor barrier.

Artwork should also travel in a temperature-controlled, securely locked truck with GPS monitoring, no matter the size or medium.

Store 

Whether it is stored short-term or long-term, art requires very specific storage in order to preserve every detail of your fine art.  

Climate control, environmental control, how much pressure is on the artwork, and even the orientation that pieces are stored at may seem like minute details, but they can make a world of difference. 

All of these factors, plus the overall security of your artwork, should be taken into account when creating a plan for your art care. 

Art Services with Our Team

No matter what your artwork needs, the Art Work Fine Art Services’ team is here and ready to create a unique plan for you. 

During your consultation, we will discuss storage, shipping, and the installation of your one-of-a-kind piece. For storage, our team will learn more about your artwork quantities, sizes, and mediums. If you are inquiring with us about shipping, our team will discuss your destination. If you are interested in using Art Work Fine Art Services to install your art, we will discuss the medium/media on which your art will be displayed (concrete walls, drywall, sheetrock, wood paneling, etc.). 

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 comprised 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, visit artworkfas.com

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