When we talk about hang a painting, surely we think in a wall and a hook. But what happens if we don’t have any wall to hang it? What if the painting is a canvas without a frame? It is a common situation, especially in exhibitions, stores and galleries. Therefore, today we present a selection of practical ideas and useful alternatives to hang a painting.

Hang a painting when we do not have a wall

In an open space, such as a square, a street or the interior of a large room, we don’t have a fixed and stable support. For this reason, if we want to exhibit our paintings, we should look for alternatives that are equally firm and safe. It is important that you remember this to be sure that your paintings won’t fall on the floor or on anyone. Whatever the support you choose, check always if it resist the weight  and hang the painting. The wind and corners are dangerous factors that you should pay special attention to.

There are different options to hang a painting in an isolated and safe way:

– Painter’s easel

If we want to expose a canvas with a frame, we can use a painter’s easel. This is a practical, portable option that allows us to highlight the painting, giving it an artistic and evocative atmosphere. Even so, it presents some conditioning factors. First, the easel must conform to the size of the painting, so it will only be valid for a single work with medium size. Superimposing a painting in front would completely break the aesthetic and it would be dangerous for the conservation of the painting.

Second, the structure should hang the canvas firmly to prevent it from falling. If it is a simple and light easel, it will be necessary to fix it to the ground (using screws or counterweights).

Finally, if we want to present several paintings, we must take as many easels as paintings. For this reason, it is recommended to display a maximum of 3 or 4 paintings per stand.

– Portable stand

If our idea is to present several works in one place, using a tent-like structure offers us many advantages. We can find many sizes and designs, suitable for indoor and outdoor spaces. The important thing is that its design corresponds to the space to which it is going to be placed, has firm joints and supports the weight of all the elements (paintings, lighting, hooks, …)

In fairs and outdoor art markets, folding tents are a popular option. They provide a lot of visibility as a stand, you can hang paintings on your roof and walls and they are also easy to assemble / disassemble. In its interior you can hang paintings of all sizes, suitable if you want to offer a wide range of prices to the public. And if you also want to present your paintings in an elegant way, follow these 8 tips.

–Hanging bars

Between the two previous ones, the hanging bars are one of the best options for holding paintings with or without a frame. In this case, it is a metal or wood structure, similar to that of a mobile rack. In essence, they are two axes parallel to the ground held by a foot at each end. Between these two axes, the paintings are fixed, tensioned by the top and bottom.

There are several versions of this system (fixed, mobile with wheels, with or without back wall, …) but it is usually used only for indoor spaces. Outside, the wind could knock down or crack the paintings.

-Screens or folding panels

Ideal for exhibitions and interior stores, it allows you to configure as you want. Here we can also hang paintings of various sizes, with or without a frame. Also, being mobile, we can change its location and give it more or less prominence.

In this case, the most important thing is that the colour of the panels must be neutral, offering the greatest contrast and focusing attention on the exposed painting. Likewise, we must ensure that this structure is safe and stable, especially against unwanted impacts.

–Pillars or prefabricated walls

Widely used in temporary exhibitions, the pillars and prefabricated walls are suitable for both interior and exterior. They can be made in plaster, glass, plastic, metal or wood, depending on the location and climate. In addition, they can be designed according to our needs, being able to add lighting, a stool for the spectators or other decorative elements. In any case, they are the support most similar to the traditional wall, being very firm and safe. On the contrary, its high weight and dimensions don’t allow us to move them easily.

These are just some of the main supports for painting that we can find in the market today. There are multiple versions of each one. Which one would fit best for what you’re looking for?

See you in the next post;)