Hanging and Caring for a Photographic Wall Art

Photographic Wall Art

Photographic Wall Art
A turtle swimming underwater

Research shows that the global art market is valued at over $65 billion. There are many persisting debates about whether photography constitutes art in the traditional sense, especially since photography is a newer, burgeoning field. Many argue that it’s not a traditional art form but happily accept it as part of the wider visual arts form.

Regardless of these distinctions, one thing is clear: the photographic wall art market is growing exponentially. Statistics show the photographic art industry was valued at $36.42 billion in 2021. It’s expected to grow at a compound annual growth rate of five percent until 2025, reaching $44 billion.

Photographic art walls can be a game-changer if you’re looking to transform your space — whether it’s a home, office, or commercial property. Cohesive artwork collections can tie rooms together, adorning your property’s walls and piquing the curiosity of visitors. They’re also a pleasant sight to behold, sparking creativity and adding flair to your space.

Unfortunately, these benefits come at a cost. You cannot hang the works of a celebrated photographer like a printed art frame. You become a curator once you’ve purchased a piece of photographic art, and as a result, you’re responsible for caring for and displaying it.

It’s also important to remember these artworks aren’t only decorative pieces. Instead, they’re investments that’ll appreciate down the line. These are treasured pieces that must be cared for properly.

Displaying Your Photographic Wall Art Piece

The first thing you must consider after purchasing a photographic art piece — whether a landscape shot of a lake or a bold shot of your favorite wildlife — is where and how to hang it. Location matters because a poorly-placed piece will adversely affect the artwork and the aesthetic appeal of the room.

The general rule dictates that most artworks should be hung at eye level. As a result, you’ll want to hang your artwork around 63 inches above the floor. If the artwork’s too high or low in a room, people will need to contort or stand at a distance to appreciate it. Another important consideration is keeping artwork away from windows because direct sunlight can cause photographs to fade by breaking them down.

More importantly, you’ll also want to hang your photographic artwork so people can easily view it. As a result, avoid crowded spaces like hallways and stairways.

Once you’ve figured out where to hang your art piece, you’ll want to decide how to go about it. The French cleat system is particularly popular for works with a rear-facing frame. They feature a simple design made from rectangular wood blocks with a slanted edge, giving them a wedge shape.

Another alternative is to fasten D-clips to the back of a frame. These are typically used for hanging larger pieces to walls because they offer more friction than French cleats. However, hanging a piece flush to the wall is more challenging with D-clips.

Lastly, you can also use picture wires to hang large artwork. They require less hardware than French cleats and D-clips. In addition, making fine adjustments is easier since there’s only a single pivot point. However, there are some downsides to using picture wires. For instance, picture wires often cause artwork to lead forward on top, making your piece tilt downward. In addition, the wall mount must also be strong enough to bear the piece’s weight, which can be difficult for larger works.

Lighting Your Artwork

Flinging an expensive photographic wall art piece onto the wall isn’t enough. You’ll also want to create the ideal viewing conditions for people to appreciate the artist’s work. As a result, the right light fixtures are essential. Incandescent bulbs have been the norm for most art enthusiasts because they provide a warmer glow to a room. However, they’re quite dim and not energy-efficient.

As a result, some people prefer using fluorescent bulbs because they’re brighter and more environmentally friendly. Unfortunately, these bulbs produce UV rays, which lead to radiation that can damage artwork. Halogen bulbs are another option, but they’re also very hot and must be installed away from your photographic pieces.

Therefore, the best solution in most cases is to use LED bulbs because they rival halogen bulbs in their similarity to bright sunlight, yet differ from them when it comes to the heat they emit. LED bulbs are inexpensive and easier to position, meaning you can change the beam angle to suit artworks of different sizes.

A picture of a river and mountains
Moraine Lake – Banff National Park

Buy Canadian Photo Wall Art from Jardene Photography

Jardene Photography is an award-winning company based in Calgary, Alberta. We sell Canadian Photo Wall Art in Alberta Nature photography, including wildlife and landscape photography. You can check out our website for more information. Alternatively, you can browse our shop to see our fine print collection.

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