The “Art” of Storing Art

Have you ever wondered how artists transport - and perhaps more importantly - store their art? After all, the majority of art collections are comprised of "one-of-a-kind" pieces, which means, if one piece breaks or is inadvertently damaged (in transit or storage), on the opening day of the show, there is no "understudy" to take its place.

The proper storage of art can be tricky, because Mother Nature can be a powerful enemy to many of the materials (media) used by artists - from paper to metals and wood. The first thing that comes to mind, of course, is water damage, however, there are a few other "natural disasters" when it comes to preserving artwork, including:

• Temperature - Art on paper or canvas is fragile. The paints, stains, pigments, and the paper are all vulnerable to environmental conditions. Too much or too little heat, high humidity, poor air circulation, sunlight and some artificial lights can cause irreparable damage to paintings and prints. Heat accelerates the deterioration of paper and canvas, while cold can cause paintings to become brittle.

• Humidity - Closely related to heat is humidity; if the humidity remains high for long periods of time, paper mold will form, or brown spots known as "foxing" may appear. In climates like that, a dehumidifier is an ideal option for protecting valuable artwork. Never store paintings or prints in a cellar, damp basement or attic. The damage caused by extremes in temperature and humidity can be devastating.

• Light - Many kinds of light can cause permanent damage to prints and paintings. Direct sunlight will fade colors within weeks and cause paper deterioration. Ultraviolet light present in fluorescent light and in direct, reflected or indirect sunlight can fade color pigments (particularly the reds).

• Insects - Insects quietly attack and damage paintings and prints. Silverfish, cockroaches, woodworms, and termites inhabit dark, warm places and eat wood, wood pulp (paper), glues and fabrics.

Considering these potentially-damaging effects, one of the best options of for safe protection from nature's elements is a secure, convenient self storage facility.

In fact, all artwork - framed or loose - should be kept in a safe, preferably climate controlled environment, away from mold and mildew, dust, insects, air pollutants, and out of damp and/or humid areas.

If artwork is begin stored for extended periods of time, someone (if not the artist) should check the art periodically, to ensure the artwork remains pristine, and to address any storage problems early in the process.

When deciding upon the right storage facility for your valuables, you should consider the following:

1. State-of-the-art security - to ensure their safe-keeping;
2. Climate controlled facilities - to prevent damage due to temperature extremes and humidity;
3. On-site management - added security and customer responsiveness


Winnie Hsiu is a recent college graduate who is passionate about traveling and enjoys the life of a vagabond. She enjoys blogging about her "cheap travels" and the memorabilia she has collected along the way. How and where she stores her things - as a nomad - makes for "fun fodder" on her blog.
Because of her travels self storage is an interest of Winnie's. She recently went looking for self storage in Venice.