Display

How to Display Your Art

By Donna Liguria 
Published May 11, 2026

There are rules to follow at galleries, art shows, art fairs, within art groups, etc. when displaying fine art - and hanging that art. This is the professional presentation of your art to the viewers of said art. When submitting art to an art show or call for art, it is imperative for the artist to read the directions - the requirements - for that show. Not following the directions to the T, can mean that your artwork may not get hung. Even if you paid a fee to submit art to that show.

Finished Artwork

There are rules that just must be said when displaying art - because we have seen it all at some point. And probably we've all had to learn these lessons the hard way.

• Canvas artwork must be finished on all sides. The canvas can be painted a solid color or the artwork can be painted around the edges to tie in with the front.

Painting showing finished edges. "Mount Assiniboine" by Donna Liguria

• Gallery-wrapped canvas 1.5 inches or more thick do not have to be framed in most cases.
• Canvases / Paintings with a width of .75 or less, are typically framed.
• Canvas boards may need be framed but check first. I've not seen a ruling on that as yet.
• Canvas panels will need to be framed.
• All artwork should be varnished or fixed with the appropriate finishing materials for the medium used to protect the surface of the work and for longevity.
• Artwork must be DRY

Yes, we've seen it at an art show. An artist touched up an artwork the night before and the next day at the show, someone purchased the art. Nice, right? No, when we were preparing the artwork for wrapping, some of the paint smeared. That was horrifying.

Framing

A beautiful frame can make an "ok" piece of art look great; while a bad framing job can make great art look bad. Choose wisely when framing art for presentation.

• Acrylic and Oil Paintings do not need to be framed if on a gallery-wrapped 1.5 depth canvas. When under that depth, the art should be framed but does not need glass or plexiglass.
• Pastels should be framed with the glass / plexiglass above the surface of the work.
• Watercolor artwork is typically matted and framed because its typically on paper.
• Photography is usually framed and wired for hanging.
• Plexiglass used in framing makes the artwork considerably lighter weight than actual glass.
• Frames must be dust and nick-free. The glass or plexiglass should be absolutely clean and finger-print free.
• The Mat size should be appropriate to the artwork. It enhances and isolates the art for better viewing.

At galleries I have volunteered at, we've seen poorly framed artwork fall apart before we had even hung it with the matting and paper just separating.

DRings and Wiring for Hanging

Some art shows and galleries require DRings and picture hanging wiring across the back, leaving room for the wiring and hanging mechanism (bracket or hook) to remain below the top of the canvas (hidden). The answer to any questions about the hanging requirements is typically found where? You guessed it, the Call for Art specifications page.

Wire too high and too loose, the wire will need to be adjusted so that the hook is below the top of the canvas

• At some of the art spaces, the work actually hangs from the DRing. Some galleries have hanging systems, some have the art on the walls, some shows use movable walls and gridwalls. 
• Use the appropriate DRing size for the size of your artwork along with the specific weight of the wire.

We've seen heavy artwork wired with flimsy wires slide out and fall. Heavy canvases and glass framed artwork doesn't bode well for a long life when hitting the floor.

• DRings and Wiring can inexpensively be purchased on Amazon in various packs and weights. Buy in bulk for what your typically sized artwork(s) will be.
• Sawtooth hangers should NEVER be used.
• If gridwalls are used to hang art, brackets are typically used to hang the work. If gridwall covers are draped over the walls, curtain hangers or drapery hooks are stuck through the fabric.

Labels

Pay attention to the labeling requirements. Typically, an artist label is placed on the back of the artwork AND the front for the viewer to see the necessary info on the piece. Most gallery space have their own gallery labels.

The Label on the back of a painting by Mark Murphy

As a general rule, the label on the back is left to the artist for their branding, although some art shows that use an online application like ArtCall.org have a Print Label feature that you should take advantage of. Realize that very large art shows with hundreds of pieces of art need to clearly know which artwork is which - so its extremely important for the artist to sign and ID his or her work.

Art Group Shows have art labels for the artist to use for the general aesthetics of the show. I like to include the size of the artwork as well. I think the potential buyer would want to know that.

I am not fond of the words "Mixed Media" on the Medium line. I want to know what the prominent products that were used to create the art, there isn't usually room for a lot of info, but the basics would be nice.

Also consider that when submitting art online, when the show asks for artwork to be submitted in a certain format, follow that requirement as well. Just get in the habit when you are taking and saving images of your art to automatically format your image files that you will be submitting to a show. Often you'll need the images formatted in multiple ways.

Examples: 

Smith_John-My Painting of a Shark.jpg

Smith_J-My Painting of a Shark 11x14 Acrylic.jpg

You can never submit art, or send art as it comes from your camera appearing as "IMG_0539". I get artwork from lots of friends and PWAS members to post on the PWAS Artistry Spin blog, so even on my PC, it can get confusing identifying who's is who's at times.

When answering the call for art and the requirements want you to submit art with no background, that means when you take a photo of your artwork, crop the photo. Most shows ask that the art not include the framing as well, although that is up for debate to the actual art viewer when it comes to the purchase.

"Sailing Away" by Donna Liguria - this image would be incorrect to submit to the call for art.

This image would be the correct image to submit to a call for art.

Sign Your Artwork

I am of the opinion that artwork should be signed on the front of the artwork, typically in the same spot. That tends to be the lower right or left corner. The viewers of the artwork, and the buyers, after they take the artwork home, no one ever sees the back of the artwork if your name is only at the back. What if they want to know who painted it? Perhaps the viewer will want to look up your name to find out more about you at some point.

Besides, if you became a famous artist at some point, don't you want every art piece you created to be a verifiable piece of art created by you?

The artist needs to sign the back of their artwork and should put at a minimum, the name of the artwork on the back. Many ask for the Artist Name, Title, Medium, and Year it was created but may ask for artist birthdate and location. The year is debatable for many artists because some art shows request for art that has been created only within the last 3-4 years.

A gallery may apply a gallery label (front and/or back) to the artworks as they are checked into their space, while some art shows may not. As a volunteer working in a gallery space, it helps to know who the artwork belongs to when it is signed and has a label. Again, the label may be on the back, but if its not signed at the front and its already been hung, it is harder to recognize who the creator is when putting the label to the artwork. See Signing Artwork.

"Bourbon and Cigar" by Donna Liguria

You can get creative when signing your artwork when appropriate. See in "Bourbon and Cigar" on the top right, upside-down on the newspaper - there's my signature.

Art Prints

Likewise, art prints must be packaged for the protection of each print in a specified manner. Fine art prints, watercolor papers, etc are fragile so if you are selling them, you need to package them so that the purchaser can safely get the artwork home and into a frame.

Usually prints are matted and packaged, but some artists don't put in margins. A backing board, archival paper, and clear film covers must be over the art print. Your business card, certificate of authenticity can be tucked in the back of the print, and your label and price must be clearly seen on the packaging.

Artist Emergency Kit

I highly recommend that everyone lookover their artwork before they leave the house to deliver the art to the show, to ensure that the painting is as the art space requested that it be. 

At every single art show that I have attended, at every gallery, at every drop off, there is ALWAYS art that comes in that must be fixed before it can be accepted and hung.

It is NOT the art show's, nor the gallery's responsibility to correct your art for you. i keep an Artist Emergency Kit in my own car for myself, well, you know, in case of an art emergency.

See Artist Emergency Kit

Protect Your Artwork To and From the Show

Protect your artwork canvas, your framed artwork, whatever you have created when transporting art to and from the art shows you enter. Artwork is fragile, and can be expensive. That is your blood, sweat, and tears in your artwork so treat it with the respect and care it deserves. Yes, your fine art can get a lot of wear and tear on it after awhile

I've seen artists bring their art to the show carefully wrapped up and boxed and if the artwork didn't sell, on art pickup day they will again carefully wrap and box their art.  I've seen artists use felt bags, pillowcases, blankets, towels, cardboard boxes and plastic boxes as well as Amazon padded bags - you name it. Use what works for you but artwork can get banged around in a car.

Believe me, I've seen people stack up their art and toss it in the car. I was horrified. 

Kudos to the galleries and art spaces that I've noticed that use cardboard on the floor to set the artwork on while in their hanging process. And the spaces that have used the white gloves to handle the artworks. That extra mile says a lot.

About Art for Sale

At nearly all art shows, the requirement is that the art must be for sale and not NFS (Not For Sale). The whole point of an art show and a gallery space, the organization hosting the art event - is to raise funds. The commission charged when an artwork sells is split (in varying percentages) between the artist and the venue. The venue's  income may go toward the maintenance of the art space and rent, or may raise funds for a specific charity or cause.

Some artists will submit art that they may not want to part with unless someone pays an arm and a leg for it. I cringe at that because I sort of see both sides of the equation. But is it truly fair to put, say $10K as the price on an artwork that most of your art buyers would not spend or may know the value is only about $900? That is not fair to the organization holding the event AND potentially the jurors may see that the artwork is totally inappropriately priced and not accept the work for their show. Something to think about.

It bears repeating. The artist is responsible for the correct display of any artwork they create and for reading the art and artist calls and show requirements and specs for the particular event they are entering. Be a professional in presentation.

@2026 Donna Liguria. All rights reserved. Unauthorized use or reproduction is prohibited without permission

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Author: Donna Liguria  is the Blogmaster for Donna's Cave Paintings and the PWAS Artistry Spin Blog and an artist member of the Prince William Art Society (PWAS) in Woodbridge, VA. Donna specializes in acrylic paintings of landscapes, seascapes, historic locations, animals and many subjects. Visit her Website at DonnaLiguriaArt.com and her Donna's Esty site to shop her art.

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