At Ballroom Arts our Courtyard and Ballroom gallery walls are always beautifully covered in original artworks by local and national artists. But this beauty comes from a keen eye for harmony and balance with the allocation of artworks within a specific space. Here, we share our Top 5 Tips learnt from watching our exhibiting artists over the years so you can go on to curate a standout art exhibition.
1. Define a Clear Theme
Developing a cohesive theme is the first step to create a strong narrative and sense of communication between your works. Consider how your pieces connect with one another, or the world around them and from that, think about what message you want to communicate. A strong theme will gather a certain audience interested in your theme as well as the friends and passers-by that will come across your event. A well-thought-out theme gives visitors a sense of purpose and something to think about even after the event.
2. Choose the Right Venue
The right venue sets the tone for your exhibition. Whether it’s a gallery, a pop-up space, or a unique location, make sure it aligns with your artistic vision. Thinking about Ballroom Arts- a Suffolk seaside gallery, themes suggestive of rural living, the sea or East Anglian heritage are well-suited ideas for the space’s surrounding environment. Have a think about how the layout, lighting and accessibility of your space enhances the display of your work.
3. Create a Balanced Layout
The arrangement of artworks within a gallery space is crucial. To create balance, consider the size, colour palette, and medium of each piece. Try starting with the larger works to serve as focal points, placing smaller pieces around them to close gaps or create visual contrast. Be careful though: give enough space between artworks to let each one stand out and communicate with each other.
Don’t start hanging straight away! You’ll save time by resting works on the floor in drafted layouts and switching pieces around until you’re happy before you start putting works on the wall. If you change your mind once you’ve hung your works, easy STAS wall hanging systems like ours at Ballroom Arts can simply unclip your work, and re-clip into your preferred space.
4. Focus on Flow and Movement
The way visitors move through the gallery impacts their experience. Have a look at the gallery floorplan and visit the space beforehand to see how other artists create flow. Then you can curate a smooth, intuitive path that guides your audience through the narrative theme of your exhibition. Group works with similar themes or visual elements together avoiding ‘dead-ends’ in your layout.
5. Use Lighting to Your Advantage
Lighting is a powerful tool in art curation. Proper lighting highlights details, textures, and colours that might otherwise be overlooked. We have industry-standard overhead spotlights, which are adjustable to direct towards key artworks.
Final Thoughts
Curating artworks in a gallery is an art in itself, requiring careful consideration of theme, location, layout, flow, and lighting. By creating balanced arrangements using a strong theme complimentary to its surroundings, you can elevate the overall experience of your visitors ensuring all works are seen in their best light. Whether you’re working solo or in a group show, these tips will guide you to curate a memorable and impactful gallery display.