Hanging Art

Published February 11, 2021                                                        Updated: July 30, 2025

There is how to hang art (the canvas itself) followed by a how and where to hang art (how to display the canvas). Two totally different subjects with a change of only the interrogative word (the How and the Where) and the hardware. Both can be challenging and both can be difficult. And most definitely, the bigger the art, the more complicated it can get. 

Tiger Face by Donna Liguria February 11, 2021

I was looking at this subject from the artist point of view first (I'm learning here too!).

• Am I (as the artist) responsible for the hardware so that a purchaser can hang it? I'm thinking I am...ANSWER: Yes, you are. 
• If so, how do I, do that? ANSWER: Depends on if we are talking an art canvas or print, keep reading....)
• And after getting a lot of canvases painted, how am I going to display them, at home or when I get to do a art expo of some sort? ANSWER: see Storing Your Art and Showing Art 

Which also leads to the new art buyer/owner, how do they get their art displayed when they get it home?

Here are a couple of important questions to ask yourself when it comes to displaying your art:

1. How heavy is the canvas?
2. Does it need the hardware to get it on the wall?
3. What kind of hardware do I need?
4. Does it need to be framed?
5. Can I display it without putting a nail in the wall?

First things first. How to get that canvas ON the wall. I read recently in an art club's guide for hanging art especially for public display to NEVER use those jagged tooth metal do-dads on your quality canvases. Wire hanging was a MUST. 

So here are a few links and videos that help tackle both the Hows and the Wheres to get started. I guess I need to learn how to wire my canvases!

How to Hang Art Like a Professional by Amanda Sims

5 Easy Ways How to Hang Artwork Without Using Nails from https://www.parkwestgallery.com/

How to Hang a Painting With Frame Hanging Wire by Marion Boddy-Evans https://www.thesprucecrafts.com/hanging-a-painting-wire-d-rings-2578378

How to House: How to Hang Large Wall Art | HGTV from HGTV

How to Hang Wall Art Like a Pro! from ColorByFeliks - this one is really good, he shows how he wires the gallery wrapped canvas.

The 57″ Rule Will Help You Hang Art Perfectly Every Time by Maxwell Ryan - this one is great too for displaying your art.

Display is the Prince William Art Society's instructions - REQUIREMENTS - on how to display art.

Also, an interesting link to "Canvas Sizes: The Ultimate Guide for Every Living Space"

Belmont Bay Marina Occoquan, Virginia by Donna Liguria 2020

So let's relook at those questions:

1. How heavy is the canvas? ANSWER: Depending on the weight of the canvas, there are various sized DRings and wire sizes to help offset larger and heavier canvases and framed artwork with heavy glass with thick solid frames.
2. Does it need the hardware to get it on the wall? ANSWER: If the artist is hanging in a gallery or with an art group at an art show, the artwork is required and with specific hardware.
3. Note: Artists that sell art prints typically only offer the packaging of the print in archival bags and usually a mat and a backing board. There are artists that offer framing or suggestions in framing but I have not come across one in life as yet.
4. What kind of hardware do I need? ANSWER: The hardware on the artwork is pretty standard for canvases as stated earlier. Picture hanging hardware in homes are also fairly standard if you don't mind the nail holes. And there are the VERY nice art hanging rail systems that can discretely manage your artwork especially if you change out artwork periodically. An example on Amazon.
5. Does it need to be framed? ANSWER: For the artists, typically it depends on the type of canvas. If artwork is side stapled canvas, it definitely needs to be framed. Often, .75 depth canvases, even if back stapled nicely, will be requested to be framed in order to show. Gallery Wrapped Stretched Canvases with a 1.5 inch depth is not requested to be framed. 
6. Can I display it without putting a nail in the wall? ANSWER: I'd look at the weight for your options and the art hanging rail systems mentioned above.

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Author: Donna Liguria
An artist member of PWAS in Woodbridge, VA and Artistry Spin Blog Admin, specializing in acrylic painting. She paints landscapes, seascapes, animals and many subjects. Visit her Website at DonnaLiguriaArt.com, Donna's Etsy site and her Blog at Donna’s Cave Paintings.