Lighting plays an essential role in creating a pleasant environment for visitors. Art galleries often use artificial lights to create a particular atmosphere. The proper lighting can also improve the quality of the artwork displayed. Therefore, it is essential to understand what art gallery lighting is and how to use it correctly.
Continue reading below to learn all the ins and outs of LED art gallery lighting.
What is Art Gallery Lighting
Art gallery lighting is a system of lights and fixtures to illuminate the artwork. The Art gallery lighting is much more complex than simple ceiling-mounted accent lights. Art galleries use lighting to highlight a work of art’s textures, true colors, and shapes. There is a wide range of things to consider when planning art gallery lighting. For example:
- The type of artwork
- The desired types of lights
- The configuration of the space
- Color temperatures and rendering indexes
- Dimming options
It is essential to know how to light your gallery correctly.
These considerations barely scrape the surface of art gallery lighting and display lighting options. To achieve the perfect lighting in an art gallery, you will need a lot more of the information below.
Why is Art Gallery Lighting Important
Proper lighting systems are essential to a piece of artwork. Lighting can drastically change the appearance of a part. To truly appreciate a work of art, you must view it the way the artist intended. Without the correct lighting, a viewer may miss what the artist intended to portray. Besides highlighting the color palette and subject, art gallery lighting brings forth textures and shadows in a piece of art. Correct lighting brings a necessary depth to the art and can influence a viewer’s mood and reaction.
Art gallery lighting does more than highlight the works of art. You can use it to influence the entire space. Lighting can help lead viewers through the gallery from piece to piece. It can also change a room’s aesthetic depending on the type of art gallery lighting, the configuration or mounting methods, and color temperatures.
Art gallery lighting can influence the mood and feeling of a space.
Types of Art Gallery Lighting
In recent years, contemporary galleries across the globe have switched to LED bulbs. LED lights offer excellent-quality light, use less electricity and help cut costs. Likewise, an LED light beam emits less potentially damaging heat while minimizing glare. There is a wide range of different types of LED lighting.
Surface-Mounted LED Downlights
Surface-mounted LED Downlights are on the ceiling or wall of an art gallery. This type of lighting creates a relaxed atmosphere.
Adjustable Recessed Lighting
Recessed lighting gives the impression of a higher ceiling. When mounted on the top, adjustable recessed lighting is attractive and inviting.
LED Track Lighting
Track lights are a perfect art gallery lighting option. Track lighting is known for being cozy. Each light fixture is easy to move along the length of the track, making it convenient to change exhibits or lights in more than one area.
LED track lighting is perfect for galleries.
LED Spotlight
Spotlights are precisely what the name suggests. Spotlights work by directing a light beam at a single piece. While not as maneuverable as track lighting, spotlights better focus the viewer’s attention.
LED spotlights are perfect for lighting a single piece.
LED Wall-Washers
Wall-washers offer less direct light than spotlights and help create pleasantly balanced illumination. Wall-washers can light multiple pieces of art.
Art Gallery Lighting Installation Considerations
There are a lot of things to consider before installing art gallery lighting. For starters, what kind of art pieces, what medium, and where? You should also consider the height of your ceilings and the size of the artwork. For more considerations, continue below.
Configuration Options
Configuration refers to how you arrange the gallery space. When thinking about layout, consider the size of the area and where you want to have the art pieces. For example, this could mean having art just on the wall. Or you might wish to have skill in the middle of the room or a combination. Think about how much light you need and what type.
Mounting Methods
Where and how you mount lights can make all the difference. Surface-mounted lights with a ceiling fixture will do the trick for lower ceilings. For higher ceilings, it can be helpful to have suspended lights. Suspended lights get closer to the artwork and illuminate it better. Remember to mount the lights in a way that will reduce glare and help animate the work.
Suspended lights work well for higher ceilings.
Color Temperatures
When lighting a gallery, you have to think about color temperatures. Different types of lights give off a different feel. For example, cool white light is intense. This light feels less natural but does not distort the appearance of the color. On the other hand, warm light is softer and closer to natural lighting, although it can affect color and appearance. Consult with the artists before deciding on color temperatures.
The Color temperature plays a vital role in art gallery lighting.
Color Rendering Index
Color Rendering Index or CRI is a scale used to determine how a light source compares to natural or ambient light. Daylight has a CRI of 100%. A CRI of 80% is standard in grocery stores and other retail shops. However, for artwork, the closer to natural light, the better. A CRI of at least 95% will display colors vibrantly and naturally.
Dimming Options
Dimming and the ability to change the brightness from one exhibit to the next is key to art gallery lighting. There are several different dimming options. Finding the right one for your needs depends on your gallery space and the types of lights—more on dimming prospects below.
DALI and C-Bus Dimming System
DALI and C-Bus dimming systems you control via a central computer. The centralized control allows you to turn the system on and off, change colors, and change brightness. This type of system is expensive to install and time-consuming to program.
WIFI Dimming
WIFI dimming is economical and convenient. Control the lights through a smartphone or tablet. WIFI dimming is also simple to install and program.
Manual Dimming
Manual dimming happens right at the switch and works through a circuit system. The number of circuits in the system determines how many lights you can control at once.
Changing the brightness of the lights can have a significant impact on the artwork.
Tips for Choosing the Right Art Gallery Lighting
The artwork is the most important thing to remember when choosing art gallery lighting. How does the artist want their work to look? Here are three other quick tips for art gallery lighting.
- Remember, the light should be at a 30-degree angle to the artwork. To emphasize texture, subtract 5 degrees. For work with a big frame, add 5.
- Ensure the gallery lighting is at least three times brighter than the surrounding ambient light. And this helps emphasize the art.
- Use the correct color temperature. Some work needs warmer light; some require something more extraordinary. Check with the artist to make sure you have the right color temperature.
- Measure the heights of your ceilings for a better idea of what mounting method to use.
Measure ceiling height
Summary
Art galleries spend hours lighting pieces of art just right. They will hire a lightings designer to consider the types of lights, the beam angle, the work of art, a range of color temperatures, and the configuration of the gallery. There are many different types of lights and mounting options. Each other option uniquely highlights the art.
When lighting your gallery, use the above tips to achieve the perfect atmosphere. For more information on all things LED, contact us today.
