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Leaning Artwork Displays

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We do this a lot in our own home, partly because we like the casual style of leaning artwork and partly because we switch things around so much that we try to avoid putting holes in the walls when we can. If you have bookshelves that need a boost or a credenza that needs some added height, leaning artwork up against a wall works well. Click below for a few ideas...

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To avoid overdoing it, combine casual, leaning displays with wall-hung art in other areas of your home. Think of leaning artwork displays as vignettes that can be changed out as needed.


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Photos: Knoll


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Photo: Knoll


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artwork, art, display, leaning

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Comments (23)

That's a groovy credenza...

posted by bepsf on March 25th 2008 at 1:18pm
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i am a big art work leaner... people always talk about moving things around.. but because we are always moving our stuff and taking a look at both our work as well as frieds it is perfect.. plus.. i am trying to develop a relationship with our walls.. and so far they are happy!

posted by dailydesignspot on March 25th 2008 at 3:23pm
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What do you use to keep them propped up? I never seem to have anything heavy enough to keep them from sliding right off the surface of whatever they're on. Maybe some rocks?

posted by spaceagemouse on March 25th 2008 at 3:36pm
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I do this a lot - maybe because I'm just a little bit lazy. Gee, I meant to hang that painting - but after a while it kind of looks good that way. :)

posted by DesignHole on March 25th 2008 at 3:42pm
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I've done this forever and I get lots of compliments. It takes away the anxiety (and hole) of pounding a nail, plus you can change arrangements whenever you feel like it. I've never found that I needed to prop up my art with anything, but I have put little round plastic "bumpers" on the top back corners to keep the frames from scraping white walls. Leaning artwork also adds a little depth and dimension, casts a bit of a shadow--making it somewhat 3-dimensional as compared to the more 2-dimensional traditional hang. This is one place where laziness really does lead to more creativity and liveliness for me!

posted by bettyt on March 25th 2008 at 4:04pm
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Um, I love that credenza in the first pic - any idea where it's from?

posted by Seamy Underbelly on March 25th 2008 at 4:09pm
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seamy underbelly, there's a link to the credenza just below the jump: it's the Giulia Media Credenza from Design Within Reach.

spaceagemouse, you can use a shelf with a ledge or a stack of books to keep artwork from sliding.

posted by sarah c on March 25th 2008 at 5:23pm
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You could also use gallery adhesive (or whatever it's called?). That moldable, releasable sticky stuff that galleries put underneath sculptures to keep them upright if knocked. A small glop under the frame would stick it to the furniture.

posted by farmhousemoderne on March 25th 2008 at 5:39pm
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Leaner here.

posted by patrick (the other one) on March 25th 2008 at 6:10pm
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i love to lean pictures- it's like the art is lounging.

posted by marisajane on March 25th 2008 at 11:25pm
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We have a large vertical piece that we lean against a wall.

http://www.flickr.com/photos/82525810@N00/1858093129/

I think it even looks better than when we had it hanging.

regards,

joel

posted by joel maria pirela on March 26th 2008 at 2:58am
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I think this leaning business can be carried too far; at some friends' houses recently I have felt like saying "dude, get the hammer and nails out"... but no, my friend feels that leaning shows he is unconventional, free as a bird, bla bla. However, I am sure that all you artwork leaners never overdo it!
My paintings are on a wall over a sofa, so I never lean them, they hang on hooks held on to a railing at the top of the wall, so no holes, either

posted by Sofia on March 26th 2008 at 3:40am
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I would imagine that keeping a painting leaning would be bad for it; the frame would warp, it would be easier to damage, more dirt on the front as well as bottom, sounds like a lose lose to me for the painting itself.

posted by dn on March 26th 2008 at 3:46am
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I have so much artwork in my small space that I do a combination. The big stuff is on the walls and the small ones are leaning.

posted by bigcityboy2 on March 26th 2008 at 4:04am
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I rent so I lean. Once I own a home I'll probably install ledge shelves.

posted by LaDonnaNichole on March 26th 2008 at 5:01am
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There's this one spot where I have a busy electrical outlet that I don't want to block with furniture, so leaning art it is.

posted by gordon on March 26th 2008 at 5:49am
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dn--

A painting, perhaps, but probably no real worries for framed art. Although I doubt the stress would be that considerable for something iwth a decent canvas stretcher.

posted by patrick (the other one) on March 26th 2008 at 6:01am
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Ooops, yes, I am with bigcityboy2 as a combo leaner/hanger.

And, now, does the "big" refer to the "city" or the "boy"??

posted by patrick (the other one) on March 26th 2008 at 6:03am
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I love that first picture because the art has such a more prominent place than the TV.

posted by SFGail on March 26th 2008 at 8:13am
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Dirty Patrick! ( I was thinking it too ;) And, in keeping with the inuendo and the topic I prefer all of my art to be hung. (rimshot please!)

Leaning feels unfinished, and I usually end up knocking things over which is not good for the art. Also, I worked in an art gallery -and leaning was definitely NOT acceptable. For smaller pieces like photos in those cheap plastic clip frames I use a thumb tack, which leaves a tiny hole. For larger pieces I use the bent metal hangers that you drive the nail into at an angle. I find they are easy to get out of the wall without doing too much damage. And even if you put a little hole in the wall - nothing some spackle and touchup paint wont fix.

posted by Modfan on March 26th 2008 at 12:13pm
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To secure leaning art on hard surfaces
you could use those clear adhesive pads used to support glass table tops, etc.
They come on a silicone-backed pad, and are so cheap.

If your leaning art starts to make it look you just moved-in and aren't finished setting up house then maybe it's time to consider 'permanently' hanging it.

In the right setting it works well.

posted by paulmuscat on March 27th 2008 at 11:16am
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I'm super excited by what looks like a yellow leather covered womb chair in the first pick. I would love to do this if I ever decide to recover mine.

posted by longgoneblonde on March 27th 2008 at 12:06pm
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Gordon--me too!

Dave--that framed centipede is CREEPY. No pun intended.

posted by kuroneko on April 2nd 2008 at 7:37am
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