Artwork Display Panels

All copyrights are retained by the artist,
Mona Majorowicz of Wild Faces Gallery.

The artwork or content in this lens may not be used or reproduced, either
in part or in whole, without the express written consent from the artist.

1. Are You Doing Primarily Indoor or Outdoor Events?

For indoor events I recommend getting covered panels as they will have more of a gallery look.

For outdoor events I recommend mesh panels as they will breathe with the wind, not fight against it.

2. What Color Display Panel Carpet Is Best For You?

Whatever color choose be sure to imagine what you artwork will look with the color you've selected. Also imagine it in less than ideal lighting as both indoor and outdoor events may have less than ideal lighting. Particularly outdoor events are far less likely to offer electricity for your own lamps so you will have weaker early morning and dusk natural light.

Black While black looks really sharp you should remember that black absorbs light. Be sure you will have plenty of lights to showcase your art. Also black will show dirt, rubs and lint more easily.

Dark Gray is the most common used color. It's dark enough to have a gallery quality look but hides dirt much better than black.

Light Gray is my personal favorite. It's light enough in color that it doesn't eat to much light but also dark enough to hide smudges and rubs.

3. The Size Of Your Vehicle

Most professional artists have vehicles big enough to haul all their wares but the average full sized panel may not fit in most mini vans. So measure. All the companies listed here make half panels that fit in almost any vehicle and after assembly create a full wall.

4. The Type Of Artist You Are Will Determine The Type Of Display Panel You'll Need

Most companies offer a couple of panel options so you can select the display that is right for you whether you be a potter, glass artist or painter. Also all of them come with shelving units and baskets to accommodate any product.

The 4 Types Of Artist Display Panels Are:
* Carpet Covered
* Wire Mesh Or Grid
* Raw Metal Tubing with no panel
* Non-rigid fabric mesh panel

If you're an artist who participates in art fairs or are planning to, you'll need something to display your work.. As with all things there are many companies which makes units to fill this function but here are the four most used by the professionals that I know.

All the display panel companies offer pretty much the same thing, which are display panels that can be joined to together to form a gallery-like look in your booth. Some are carpet covered with various colors to choose from. While others are fabric or wire mesh. All come with various accessories like display print bins, shelves, height extenders, half walls and podiums.

The carpeted version really pulls off a gallery look which is pretty amazing when your trying to create a gallery in the middle of a parking lot during an art fair.

Pro Panels Display Panels are probably the most used company among artists.

Armstrong Panels Display Panels are pretty much the same thing as Pro Panels, but additionally they offer a wire mesh version which is the one I use.

Graphic Display This artist display panel is the more economy minded version which only comes as a wire grid system.

The Flourish Company They make the non-rigid fabric mesh display panels that require little space for storage.

Pro Panels

This is probably the most widely used company for this type of product.

This is an excellent company for carpet covered panels as they have an excellent selection of carpet colors and accessories.

Pro Panel Artist Display Panel Options
* Extensive Carpet Color Selection
* Wide range of Accessories including pedestals, stands, desks, baskets and shelving.
* Variety Of Panels Sizes including half panels and extenders.
* Pro panels sells only carpet covered panels.

PRO PANELS 66"H X 36"W

Amazon pro Panel Display Product Description
Create individual workspaces, dedicate an area for the shared copier and fax, or discreetly conceal extra office supplies with Bush Furniture's room-dividing panels. Available in Slate or Chestnut Brown, each fabric-covered screen features a heavy-duty extruded plastic frame and interior metal inserts for strength and stability. Wide-set, adjustable levelers help steady the panels on carpet or uneven floors and in-line channels allow for easy, sleek panel-to-panel connections. This panel measures 67 inches high by 36-1/2 inches wide by 2 inches deep and includes one steel connector. It comes with a ten-year warranty. --Kara Karll
Product Description
With hundreds of possible configurations, ProPanels can convert any work area into a stylish and private office setting.

* 66-inch-by-36-inch room-dividing panel customizes office workspace
* Fabric-covered screen with heavy-duty extruded plastic frame; available in Slate or Chestnut Brown
* Internal metal inserts for strength and stability
* Includes adjustable floor levelers and one steel in-line connector
* Measures 67 inches high by 36-1/2 inches wide by 2 inches deep; 10-year warranty

Screenflex Mobile Display - Gray, 6' 5 Tall, 6 Panel Display

Artist Panel Amazon Product Description
The star-shaped, 3 panel mobile display offers up to 68 sq ft of display surface while the 6 panel display doubles the display area to 138 sq ft. It requires no assembly and has self-leveling, locking caster wheels for instant stability.

Note: I've not had any experience with this artist display panel from Dick Blick. They look nice and the locking casters are a very nice feature. Be sure to double check the weight bearing capacity on these panels as it's an expensive item to not be able to suit your needs.

Dick Blick offers a wide variety of this company's artist display panels in various sizes and colors.

This particular panel setup would be very effective in an indoor event or an open sided corner booth.

The Armstrong Company is the company whose panels I use. I chose them because in addition to making the carpet covered panels they also made these nice wire mesh panels.

I prefer the wire mesh to the carpeted panels for outdoor events because it lets the tent breathe.

* On windy days the wind just rushes through them while it pushes on the carpeted panel walls in some cases tipping them.

* Also for the completely windless days it allows what little breeze to stir through the tents while the carpeted paneled tents are stifling.

Armstrong Artist Display Panels Options
* Extensive Carpet Color Selection
* Wide range of Accessories including pedestals, stands, desks, baskets and shelving.
* Variety Of Panels Sizes including half panels and extenders.
* Sell both carpet and mesh walls. They did offer a tube display but have since discontinued that item

Graphic Display

Graphic Display is the more economical of the companies listed here.

Graphic Display Panels Options
* Only sells wire screen panels
* Wide range of Accessories including baskets and shelving.
* Variety Of Panels Sizes including half panels and extenders.

Flourish Company

This company offers the non-rigid fabric mesh panels that are hung from the tent's interior frame. They make mesh panels for both EZ Up and Craft Hut style tents. Plus they also make fabric covers for wire mesh panels like Graphic Display Panels. And lastly they also sell art fair tents.

Flourish Artist Display Panels Options
* Are White in color so virtually disappear inside the tent.
* Are made for both EZ Up Style and Craft Hut style tents
* The panels roll up for easy storage that requires minimal space.

The downside to these panels (if there is one) is that they require a structure or frame to hang them on. This means you must have at least a 10x10 booth. While this is the standard for most art fairs many indoor events have smaller or odd shaped spaces. You may not be able to use these panels when doing those types of events. And the other thing is you are stuck with a 10x10 square shape. With my hard panels I often open up one side for additional flow during indoor events or simply created cubbies and half walls. Again not something that can be done using the mesh sidewalls..

Do not hang heavy objects from fabric mesh panels when using them in conjunction with EZ Up style tents.

While the panels will hold the weight if you encounter windy outdoor conditions, the tent will not. With wind the artwork will pull and sway and on a lightweight tent and it will snap the joints. If the weather is even mildly windy your tent will crumple like a house of cards. I've seen it time and again so heed my warning here.

They have both an upper and lower stabilizer bar that you can purchase to use on your EZ Up style tents with the fabric mesh panels. The Flourish Company claims it adds stability and.I would assume this would help dramatically with the issues of windy days causing collapse of the tent. But I really don't know.

Deluxe Grid Panel for Retail Display 2' x 6' Priced 3 Per Carton, White

Grid System Artist Display System
This type of grid system artist display panels tend to work be for things like clothing and fabrics. The pegs allow for items to be hung widely spaced apart and is not too eye catching when covered in clothing and fabrics. Depending on the artwork that you do though they can certainly work for flat art. Just be aware that the large grid can detract visually from your work as opposed to a flat panel or a small mesh style wire panel.

This particular artist display system however has all sort of wonderful hooks, bars and miscealleous attachments for you to create exactly the art fair booth you want.

Gris System Display Amazon Description
Grid panels are the most versatile cost-effective display available to all types of retailers. Can be used on the wall, on the ceiling or free-standing on the floor singly or connected to other panels, allowing for unlimited display possibilities.* Durable Epoxy Coating

* Made of .25" Steel Wire
* Double Wire Sides for Stability

Rectangular Tubing Leg for Grid Panel /Chrome--- Lot of 12 each

Grid System Artist Display Extras
The great thing about this system is you can literally build it panel by panel. Just don't forget to get all the extra bit to put it together. You'll need legs to hold your panels up and hooks with which to hang your work.

Please Note:
There are a great number of these items on Amazon so be sure that you get all matching display parts. Grid Panel Displays come in black, white and chrome.

Amazon Product Description
* Quality production
* Easy or no assembly
* upgrade your retail space or public areas
Color: Chrome
Rectangular Tubing Leg for Grid Panel, Chrome

Well I couldn't really consider this a comprehensive page on panels until I added some home made variations. I would say that this sort of thing is fine for trying out art fair venues but if you want to go pro you should really invest in the commercial grade variety. All of the DIY examples listed below I have seen at one time or another.

Home Made Panels Can Be Made From
* Pegboard This is the kind of thing I started with. I paid $50 for a used set which I painted and used for the first couple of years when I was doing only a couple of small events a year. They are cheap and easy to construct, but they are heavy, tip easily in the wind and take up a lot of space in the van.

* Plastic Coated Wire Shelving Like the stuff you buy at Menards. They are generally white and Ziptied together. They work only for light weight items like jewelry. Can be cleverly hidden with fabric covers but again are only usable for light items.

* Dog Kennel Panels Work as well as regular panels but really don't look good.

* PVC Some who have cobbled together something with PVC pipe look pretty darn good. One lady had used dark velvet blankets and at a casual glance they looked like the real thing. Again this was a good way to try out a venue but if she was to continue she'd have to upgrade.

Use Your Creativity To Create Something Truly Awesome For Your Artist Display

Anytime you don't need to pull off a gallery look, a person could probably get away with the above listed options. However I also I think depending on what you're selling you might be able to employ some truly unique displays. I've seen some fabulous booths which used old wood doors left in their rustic condition. And also a booth using old suitcases (like 20's - 60's era) on tables and pedestals opened like they were revealing foreign treasures. So if you're really creative you might be able to create something spectacular that doesn't require spending thousands of dollars. But for most of us who decided to make selling our art a living, the professional panels are the only way to go.

When I started out in art fairs (over 15 years ago) none of the events I did required a booth slide submitted with your artwork slides for jury panel. Now nearly every event of size does. What this means is that the same people who are critiquing your work to see if it's good enough to belong in their event are now also critiquing your display. So if you are making display panels yourself, make sure they pass for the professional grade kind in your slided.

Honestly most patrons don't really care. When it 95 degrees and humid, whilst baking on the pavement, most patrons on a conscious level could care less if your display cost $10 or $1500. However some events are really pushing the high end outdoor gallery look. If what you create is intended for that market. Buy something professional.

All systems require you to get additional items in order to make them work.

Necessary Accessories
Cross bars
Corner braces
Pegs

My advice is to buy more than you think than you're going to need. Things get lost or damaged in the mad rush of doing art events. There is nothing so upsetting as not having a part of some sort that is indispensable for securing your display. Just buy extra and bring them along.

Non-essential Accessories
shelves
print bins and baskets
tables
stands and counters
height extenders
Brochure holders
Sign Holders

My name is Mona Majorowicz I am a professional artist who has been making my living selling my work for some time now. I am an animal artist, (meaning I paint critters) who works primarily in Oil Pastel or Water Soluble Pencil.

I own and operate Wild Faces Gallery with my husband Mike in a small rural town in Iowa. There we sell my original artwork and prints, as well as do quality custom framing and offer Giclee printing for other artists as well as for ourselves. I have over 20 years experience in the art and framing industry, both as a business owner and as a working artist.

I write a regular column for Apples 'N Oats (an equestrian magazine) about painting horses. If you would like to see real life photos of Catch, or want to follow the painting's progress (with full story) from start to finish please visit my blog, Fur In The Paint

Animals are my passion and art is how I chose to express it.

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