Strategies for hanging artwork

[Gobidharma]

Since I've been doing this lately, I thought I'd share some formulas for hanging artwork.

I've worked in several galleries, have hung many dozens of shows, and over the years have come up with a decent formula for consistent results. I use a formula, because it is adaptable to pieces of any size.

Further, I feel that hanging a wall is really no different from composing a panel or canvas. We have a certain number of elements, typically squares or rectangles which need to be placed in an interesting manner on a larger rectangle.


Vertical Placement

Most galleries and museums will hang artwork with either a 60" or 58" center. Having work centered vertically along the wall allows the viewer to see the artwork, and not the irregularity of the display. This exact height is a decent average of eye-levels for most people.

There are exceptions to this, for example, if a piece will be hanging over a table that is against the wall, you may want to have more space between the surface of the table and the bottom of the frame.

First, we need to discuss the offset. The offset is the distance from the point where the hook will meet the wire on the back of the frame, and the top of the frame. This is the major variable, even given two works of the exact same size. This will have to be measured for each piece and factored into the equation.

Assuming you have a series of paintings to hang, all different sizes, and enough space to hang them in a single row, you can use this formula to find the point where you need the hook or nail (or whatever) to be:

Hook Placement = 1/2 the height of the frame + 60" - the offset

Remember, when using hooks, this is placement for the bottom of the hook, not the nail holding the hook. With smaller works, you might get away with using a push-pin or a small brad nail to hold the piece.

When measuring frames, I typically stand, placing the frame on my feet, measuring the back of the frame as I bend over to look at it, then measuring the offset. This will protect the front of the frame from being scratched, either on the floor or by the tape measure.


Vertical Placement for Multiple Pieces

In large events, where space is at a premium, you may need to hang multiple pieces over one another, salon style. At some events this is done in a hit or miss manner, typically due to time constraints, where people eyeball the placement. If you are interested in uniform spacing, the first measurement we need is the total height of all pieces.

Total Height = Height of each Frame + Distance between the Frames x (Number of Frames - 1)


If you have two frames that are 9" high, and you want a 5" space between them vertically, this will = 23" total height. 9" + 9" + 5(2-1)

If you have three frames, each 9" in height, and a 5" space between them vertically, this will = 37" total height. 9" + 9" + 9" + 5 (3-1)

We then divide that to find the center of the group:

Combined Center = Total Height/2

If you have an odd number of pieces, hang the center one first. That will be at a 60" center and you can use the first formula. Once the hook is in place, remove the piece so you can accurately measure for the rest.

Next we need to find the placement for the top-most piece:

Top Placement = 60" + 1/2 Total Height - Offset

Then we find the bottom placement:

Bottom Placement - 60" - 1/2 Total Height - Offset

If you have five pieces stacked vertically, you can remove all the paintings, and simply find where to hang the second piece down by using this formula:

1/4 Total Height - Offset for the second piece down

Likewise we can find the middle point between the center piece and the bottom piece using this formula:

Combined Center - 1/4 Total Height - Offset for the fourth piece down


If you have two pieces, or an even number of pieces, you can skip the step used to hang the center piece, and just go to the top most piece:

Top Placement = 60" + 1/2 Total Height - Offset

Then we find the bottom placement:

Bottom Placement - 60" - 1/2 Total Height - Offset



I know this is a lot to visualize, but once you get the hang of it, you can calculate the placement for any number of pieces, of any size.


Horizontal Placement

On any given wall there will be light fixtures, switches, outlets, molding, door frames, window frames, simple openings, etc. When hanging artwork, it is important to determine how much space you would like each piece to have from these interruptions on the wall surface.

If you have enough space to hang several pieces horizontally, between interruptions, you can use another formula to calculate uniform placement.

Available Space = Total Length of Wall - Width of each Frame

We then calculate what distance we need to use to create a uniform placement.

Horizontal Adjustment = Available Space/Number of pieces + 1

Starting then, on one side of the wall in question, we use:

Horizontal Placement = Horizontal Adjustment + 1/2 Width of 1st piece

We use that same formula for each piece. When complete, the spaces between the paintings should be even and deliberate.



Process

When tackling a wall, I will typically start by placing the pieces along the base of the wall. This will allow me to arrange them in a harmonious manner, choosing the best pieces for each part of the space. I will consider several variables:

- How much space the viewer will have to back up, to look at the piece.
- Lighting conditions
- Initial impression made upon entering the space
- Color of frames
- Weight of each piece
- Estimated path the viewer will take through the space

We want to draw the viewer into the space, minimize situations where one piece will compete with another, either by placement or by proximity.



Non-Uniformity

There are times, when you have an irregular piece, or a series of pieces that will be hung in a format that is irregular. For example if you have three paintings, you may opt to find both the horizontal center and the vertical center among them. Once you get used to the formulas above, you should be able to figure out the formula for doing this.

Non-uniformity is sometimes used to create significance. Placing three pieces in closer proximity may indicate or imply a meaningful relationship.

Given the nature of the space, you may also wish to give a wider space to the outsides of the wall than the spaces between the paintings. This too can be factored into the formulas above.

Exceptions to the 60" center might involve circumstances where there are stairs, where there is a balcony or a loft, where there is a fireplace, tall ceilings, etc.



I am hoping that if you take the time to play with these formulas, they will be useful to you.

Comments or questions are welcome. Hopefully it's not too confusing.