How To: Create an Art Gallery in Your Home

Creating an "art gallery" in your home is a great way to provide a focal point to your art, especially if you are a collector. But don't let the term "gallery" intimidate you. We're simply talking about dedicating a space in your home to showcase your favorite pieces of art. Anyone can do it!

I spotted the above art wall on Flickr and asked it's owners, Joanie Yokom and Johann Fitzgerald, about how they created their gallery.

Why did you decide to create an art gallery wall in your home?
Joanie: We have a lot of art but not a lot of wall space so we wanted to create a system that would let us move pieces in and out of view without having to constantly pound nails into the walls. This is especially important now that Johann has veneered all the walls with Venetian plaster.

How did you decide where to place items?
Joanie: We change the art around like a tile puzzle whenever the mood strikes us, and if you look through our Flickr gallerytreams you'll see the art move all around the studio.

What tips would you offer ShelterPop readers who are interested in creating their own art gallery wall?
Joanie: Find a local steel supplier and have them cut the length of rail you want. We mounted ours to the wall with three-inch screws. Two of the five attachment points tie directly in to studs in the wall (very important). Use the wider side of the L as the rail ledge. Make sure the steel is good and clean before putting art on it. I've seen some homes with two levels of rail and we considered this but we like to move furniture and other stuff around (like the letters, Johann's plaster samples etc.) and this leaves us some vertical leeway.

Where did you get all of your amazing art?
From left to right freestanding pieces: A piece of rolled up screen tied with string was on its way to our storage unit when we hung it on a nail that was intended for other art. We laugh every time we look at it. The letter Y was purchased at the Alemany Flea Market in San Francisco. The letter "F" was found in the "free" section during an art show at the SF Recycling Center.

On the rail, left to right: A photo taken by Joanie that has been digitally printed onto canvas; A painting by a friend, Tom Fowler; "Apples and Mint" painting by Joanie's sister, Diane; #9, mixed media by Johann; "Nebula" painting by Johann.

Other art in our studio space includes glass from Murano, Italy, a Japanese fishing float found on Ocean Beach, paintings, ceramics and gallery by ourselves, friends and other artists.

More tips on creating your own art wall:
- Use a plant stand to display a sculptural piece. This will make it stand out more than if it just sits on a table alongside magazines and keys.
- Use decorative picture hanging materials, such as ribbon.
- Install a picture rail and hang your artwork from there instead of directly on the wall. For example, see Nicole Balch's living room.
- Arrange pieces together on a wall using different shapes and sizes. You can see this article for a tutorial on how to arrange your art.
- Purchase old antique frames and easily give them some new life with paint! Read more on how to do that from our post, Freshen Up Vintage Mirrors.

Thanks so much to Joanie and Johann for sharing their art gallery with us. You, too, can have a beautiful art wall just like Joanie and Johann. It's easy, and all you need to do is start collecting that art!