Displaying Sculpture in Your Home

Displaying Fine Art Sculptures in Your Home

Although acquiring art is indeed a pleasurable pursuit. The aspect of deciding where to display it in your home or office can be quite challenging.
With two-dimensional pieces such as paintings or prints, this essentially requires finding wall space in
an area where the piece can be properly emphasized yet still complement the rest of the decor. With
three-dimensional sculpture; by its very nature, exudes a demanding physical presence and thus a corresponding display place, particularly for larger and/or bulkier pieces. No matter where you place your sculpture, you’re going to need to take into account details, such as the pedestal or base you use and the light that surrounds it. Here are some guidelines for the best approaches to displaying sculpture in your home.

Placing it in the Room
Since sculpture is a three-dimensional art form, it really needs to be in an area where it can be viewed from
multiple sides. This is an important consideration when determining where to place a piece in a room, as you want to choose a space with the most unrestricted view possible. At the same time, you also need to consider the functionality of the room itself, as a sculpture may look great in the center of a room but end up blocking the flow of traffic and making the space less comfortable to be in overall. Try different arrangements of furniture to find the best configuration for a large sculpture. With smaller sculptures, for the best viewing situation, you want to be sure they’re placed at eye level. In this case, the base or pedestal you choose will play a big part in where in the room’s design the piece will best fit. If in doubt contact the artist who created your piece and give him or her a description or better yet a picture of the location you have in mind, often the artist can make or suggest something that will work in your environment.

Finding a Base
Of course, size is going to play a significant role here, as smaller objects can be simply placed on a shelf or
table, whereas larger pieces will probably need their own pedestal. The trickiest part of selecting a pedestal
is determining what material will best complement the sculpture. In other words, you want the pedestal to be
pleasing to the eye yet remain visually in the background, rather than drawing attention away from the sculpture itself. This doesn't necessarily mean you need to find a pedestal that replicates the sculpture in terms of color or form. Sometimes, juxtaposing a different material or shape can create an interesting look that really makes the sculpture stand out. Don’t forget to make sure that the pedestal is strong enough to hold the artwork and that the sculpture is firmly secured to its base.

Directing the Lighting
One of the keys to displaying sculpture is good lighting. This can demand a bit of a balancing act, as you want to place the piece in a well-lit area of the room, preferably near a light source, but at the same time you want to avoid situations where the light is shining primarily from behind or from beneath the piece. For instance, too much direct light from behind, such as from a south-facing window, will often cast such bright illumination that the details of the sculpture itself are difficult to see. Another common mistake is to shine a single dramatic spotlight, leaving the rest mostly in shadow. This may look good at first glance, but it will effectively obscure most of the piece. Go for diffuse but steady light and gentle, gradual shadows, which will help illuminate the sculpture’s strong lines and subtle forms.

By displaying sculpture, you can add a sophisticated touch to any home or office interior. And with the wide variety of mediums available, you’re sure to find a piece that resonates with the decor of your home.