Artist Engineering Hardware Aims to Make Art Handling Hands-Free
Artist Engineering (AE) Hardware, created by Sam Shmith in Melbourne, Australia, is currently being evaluated by institutions such as the National Gallery in London. Introduced a year ago, it tackles the "last 100m" and "last 10m" challenges highlighted by the Canadian Conservation Institute. This innovative system enables the removal of artworks without physical contact, thus preventing damage associated with conventional handling. Conservator Mary Gridley cautions against lifting paintings by their stretchers, while Patrick O'Sullivan from the National Gallery appreciates its ability to minimize long-term harm. The hardware has received positive feedback for its user-friendliness during tests at Crystal Bridges Museum, despite its higher costs compared to traditional techniques. In response to demand, Shmith has begun a second production run.
Key facts
- Artist Engineering (AE) Hardware was invented by Sam Shmith, former studio manager for artist Adam Pendleton, and developed in Melbourne, Australia
- The system has been on the market for about a year and is being assessed by users including the National Gallery in London
- AE Hardware's grip disengages from the work, leaving a discreet bracket permanently installed in the frame or support
- The bracket avoids repeated drilling and installation of new hardware and provides a contact-free fixing point for transit frames
- In the UK, fitting large Oz Clips to a painting with eight fixing points costs approximately £280, compared with £917 plus shipping for AE Hardware on the same painting
- At Crystal Bridges Museum of American Art, the hardware was installed in two orientations on a frequently loaned Amy Sherald work of approximately 305cm by 274cm
- Patrick O'Sullivan, the National Gallery's head of art handling, says the system appears designed with longevity in mind and represents good value
- Shmith has triggered a second production run to meet demand and estimates a three- to five-year timeframe for the shift away from hands-on handling
Entities
Artists
- Sam Shmith
- Adam Pendleton
- Mary Gridley
- Patrick O'Sullivan
- Dave O'Ryan
- Thomas Douglas
- Amy Sherald
- Adam Prideaux
Institutions
- Artist Engineering
- Canadian Conservation Institute
- National Gallery
- Hallett Independent
- Crystal Bridges Museum of American Art
- Helu-Trans
- The Art Newspaper
Locations
- Melbourne
- Australia
- London
- United Kingdom
- Hong Kong
- United States