7 Tried And True Methods for Displaying Gallery Art Prints

Buying gallery art prints isn’t enough: they need to actually look presentable! If you’re stumped on how to display your metal prints for your home or show, we’re here to help.

A crooked painting or incompatible framing can make your purchase feel incomplete. There’s a surprising amount of psychology involved in presenting photography prints and painting prints — it can even boost your mental health. Whether you’re trying to put together a gallery show or spruce up your living room, a few ideas can get the creative juices flowing.

We’ll share 7 tried-and-true methods for displaying art prints for your home wall art gallery or upcoming show. Not only do these ideas look magnificent, they’re easy to do!

If you’re short on time, our 7 go-to methods for displaying gallery art prints are:

• Center a single print to make it the focal point of the room
• Rows of three are wonderful for showing off a mini-series
• Five to seven prints clustered together is bold and playful
• Surround a large print with smaller prints to easily fill up a wall
• Use print mounts to create cool optical illusions
• Use backings to create a more professional looking print
• Strategically use matte or glossy prints depending on lighting

Source Image: Pixabay

Center a Single Print for Maximum Emphasis

Centering a single print is one of the most classic and striking ways to display a piece of art. This method is quite popular for both art galleries as well as a living room or personal studio.

When you center your metal prints, you automatically put emphasis on it. Photographers, designers, and illustrators usually reserve these lone prints for the most impressive piece in their portfolio. 

If you’re printing wall art for your apartment or house, a single print is a great way to showcase a beloved family member, friend, or pet. Since there aren’t any other surrounding photos or illustrations, all eyes will be automatically drawn to it. 

Does that mean you can’t have any framing for a single print? Far from it. You can use other objects to balance out your portrait, such as a nearby plant or wall shelves. These can still create a little extra intrigue without removing the focus of your central print. 

Source Image: Pixabay

Try Rows of Three to Show Off Mini-Series

When you have a series of photos or portraits connected by a similar theme or style, rows of three are the way to go. These triple patterns are an elegant way to show off a mini-series without taking up too much space. 

Secondly, rows of three provide a glimpse into the inner world of a photographer or an illustrator. For example, you can have rows of flower paintings to show your love of the natural world. A row of portraits from a fun concert you and your friends went to is another nostalgic way of remembering good times. 

Even better, rows of three are a beginner-friendly way of organizing prints since they don’t require too many working pieces. You can try three prints of the same size side-by-side or shake things up a little with different sizes — one popular choice is to have two small prints framing a large center print. 

Source Image: Unsplash

Five to Seven Prints Clustered Together Looks Dynamic

Who knew clutter could be stylish? Clustering five to seven metal prints all over the wall is a dynamic way of showcasing many subjects or themes you love…and that’s not all! 

Five to seven is an appealing odd number that still looks natural while letting you get wild with combinations. In fact, there’s a little psychology behind the reason people tend to prefer odd numbers over even numbers in interior decoration. According to a fascinating study, seven is the most popular odd number on a visual level because it feels more memorable.

These stylistically clustered prints work well to fill up blank space and make a room feel more lived-in. You can cluster photos of your family and friends in your workspace to make it feel more homely. You can cluster multiple sketches or thumbnails together to showcase your creative process in an art gallery.

Source Image: Pixabay

Surround a Large Print with Smaller Prints to Fill Up a Wall

If you’re torn between large metal prints and small metal prints, you can actually have the best of both worlds with this set-up. Surrounding a large print with smaller prints is a bold and unique way to fill up a space. 

The large print will still get emphasis because of its sheer size, but the smaller surrounding prints add extra flavor. The contrast between large and small goes a long way toward feeling natural, especially when you use an odd number.

There are tons of ways to use this unconventional set-up to great effect. You can use a large print to showcase a finished work, such as an oil painting, then surround it with several smaller rough drafts or sketches. You can also get creative with theming, such as having a large print of a forest surrounded by smaller prints of flowers. 

If you can’t choose what to display, try this set-up to simply organize all your favorite things by size. The largest print can be your absolute favorite hobby or animal, while the smaller prints can be other interests. Think of it like a scrapbook, but composed of high-quality prints that will last a lifetime.

Source Image: Pixabay

Try Mounting Your Print for a Cool Optical Illusion 

Are you interested in gallery art prints that feel like they’re about to come to life? Some print mounts give your photo, illustration, or logo the illusion that they’re floating in space.

For example, our box mounts come in 20 x 30”, lifting your print 3/4ths of an inch off the wall and giving it the illusion of hovering in space. This fascinating optical illusion is a creative way of breathing new life into your work, all with just one nail.

Do you want a soothing photo of a cloudy sky or a rolling seascape to feel real enough to step into? The box mount combines well with our ChromaLuxe printing technology, able to print a vibrant painting that feels like a glimpse into another world.

However, the box mount has more than one function. If you want to set up gallery art prints at home, this mount option also creates a subtle futuristic effect. Fans of holograms in science-fiction movies will be well taken care of here.

Source Image: Pixabay

Backings Make Your Gallery Art Prints Look Professional 

If you’re looking for a more sleek and professional look, you can also try print backings. These useful additions save you time poring through endless framing options for a result that’s bold, simple, and effective.

Our Premium Frame Mount is similar to our Box Mount by slightly elevating your metal prints off the wall. However, the smooth surrounding frame adds that final touch-up that makes your print go from polished to ready-to-present. These mounts also come in larger sizes than the box mount, so you can create some metal prints that stretch all the way across the wall.

Since our metal prints are made out of high-quality ChromaLuxe aluminum, you don’t have to worry about oily fingerprints or cigarette smoke ruining your work’s finish. Our metal is resistant to scuffs, scratches, stains, and wrinkles. 

Source Image: Unsplash

Be Clever When Picking Matte or Glossy Gallery Art Prints

Last but not least, your gallery art prints will look far better once you understand the differences between glossy and matte. Neither of these finishes are superior to the other: they work differently depending on the environment.

Glossy finishes are ideal for rich and colorful paintings or photos. However, they tend to cause glare and aren’t well-suited to sunny or brightly lit indoor environments. Choose glossy metal prints for softly-lit indoor art galleries, trade shows, or areas of your home away from direct sunlight.

Matte is the opposite of glossy, lacking the shiny surface in favor of a smooth and even finish that doesn’t reflect light. While this finish won’t produce annoying glare, its colors tend to come out softer and a little duller than glossy. Matte metal prints are best for grayscale photography or paintings with simple color schemes. In fact, their subdued coloration can create a slightly vintage look.

FAQs 

Got a few more questions before creating some gallery art prints? We’ll answer a few below.

What is the Difference Between a Canvas Print and a Gallery Print?

A canvas print is literally printed directly onto a canvas, giving you the benefits of recreating a traditional painting without displaying the original piece. A gallery print is a broader term for any prints created for an art gallery, including metal prints, paper prints, or canvas prints.

Do People Still Buy Art Prints?

Absolutely. According to Statista, the global art market’s annual revenue has been steadily increasing for the past few years now. People are still very interested in high-quality prints of illustrations, designs, and photos that speak to them on a personal level.

What Size Art Print Sells Most?

Smaller prints tend to be more popular for home art galleries since they’re lower cost and easier to hang up, such as 10”x 8” and 12” x 12 “. However, larger prints are more popular for public galleries and trade shows since they’re easier to read at a distance.

How Do You Label Art Prints in a Gallery?

You can handwrite your signature, use stickers, or print. We offer a signature backstamp for our metal prints that can include your artist signature, limited edition run, and website. 

Source Image: Pixabay

We’ll Help You Create a Stunning Ensemble of Gallery Art Prints

Displaying your gallery art prints takes a little foresight and creativity. You want your photographs or illustrations to seamlessly slot into your apartment, art gallery, or trade show.

The 7 methods we highly recommend you try are center prints, three-series, five to seven pieces clustered together, surrounding a large print with smaller prints, mountings, backings, and finishes. 

You don’t have to figure out how to print, hang, and arrange your gallery art prints alone. Contact us today to learn how you can create high-quality metal prints that last a lifetime.