Installing An Art Exhibition

Installing an art exhibition can be a fun and creative endeavor but it also requires A LOT of hard work.  

Installing a show is a true labor of love.  It involves an eye for balance and harmony.  
Deciding where a piece of art should be placed in an exhibit space is as important as the work itself.  

 

Once a preliminary overview of what will be included in the exhibition is made, an initial placement of the works is made.   This helps to visualize how the show will look once it is hung. 

A relationship of color and form is considered when determining the placement  of art in a space.

 

 It is essential that there is breathing room so that each work can be individually appreciated. Another thing that is often essential is a ladder!  

Some installations have unique challenges attached to them.  

 

The ceiling height and duct work at ARC Gallery in Chicago required me to come up with an alternate way to hang the columns in my piece Spaces We Inhabit. 

Amy Van Winkle and I had to come up a number of alternate design plans when installing our collaborative art exhibition The Paths We Choose.  The existence of a cement wall and a metal door in our space required us to change the way we hung the 500 piece joint work.

Please share any additional insights into the installation of an art exhibit including tips, tales and lessons learned!