Art Handling Services
Museum-grade care from preparation through storage.
Wilson Cetina Group provides specialized art handling services for cultural institutions, public art programs, government agencies, airport art programs, university and corporate collections, and private clients. Our team brings formal backgrounds in fine arts, art history, and museum studies, alongside 10+ years of verifiable experience in the preparation, installation, care, handling, packing, and transport of art objects. We work seamlessly in publicly accessible, high-traffic, high-security environments — the conditions found in museums, transit hubs, and airport terminal exhibition programs.
What We Handle
- Installation and de-installation of rotating temporary exhibitions
- Medium- and small-scale fine art installation and preparator services
- Archival packing and custom crate design
- Climate-controlled domestic transportation (ground and air)
- Secure, climate-controlled storage
- Condition reporting and museum-grade documentation
- Lighting installation and adjustment for exhibitions
- Mount-making and artifact preservation
- Specialty media installation: neon, digital, electronic, and interactive works
Our Approach
Every art handling project begins with detailed condition assessment and planning. We coordinate directly with curators, registrars, and program staff to ensure works are protected at every touchpoint — from initial crate design through final installation and long-term storage. Our protocols follow museum best practices, and our documentation is structured for institutional and audit requirements.
Notable Art Handling Engagements
- Long-standing exhibition support work for LACMA, MOCA, the Hammer Museum, the Getty, and the Skirball Cultural Center
- Installation and de-installation of rotating temporary exhibitions across Los Angeles cultural institutions
- Venice Biennale international exhibition logistics
- Museum-grade packing and transport for high-value brand and cultural installations
See our Venice Biennale case study or explore our museum exhibition portfolio.
Professional Preparator Services
Our preparators bring formal backgrounds in fine arts, art history, and museum studies. They handle installation, de-installation, and movement of small to medium-sized works of art and artifacts; collaborate with curatorial staff on exhibition planning and arrangement; adjust and install exhibition lighting; supervise storage and inventory of exhibition materials; and provide periodic maintenance and condition checks between rotations.
Archival Packing & Custom Crate Design
We design and build custom archival packing solutions for works of any scale or fragility. Our packing services include specialty multi-use crates, single-shipment crates, blanket-wrap, and soft-packing — coordinated with the documentation, insurance, and shipping logistics required for high-value artwork.
Climate-Controlled Transportation
We coordinate domestic ground and air transportation in climate-controlled, air-ride, secure vehicles, with oversized lift gates and specialized handling equipment as needed. We act as shipping agents, make courier arrangements, administer bills of lading, and provide proper documentation and additional insurance as needed for each shipment.
Secure, Climate-Controlled Storage
We provide access to secure, climate-controlled storage with appropriate humidity controls for short- and long-term needs. Our storage services include inventory management with location IDs, barcoding, and retrieval histories, plus organizational systems including flat files, A-frame racks, ventilated cabinets, and padded art storage racks.
Condition Reports & Documentation
Full condition reports and photo documentation for stored, shipped, and installed artworks. Our documentation protocols meet the requirements of cultural institutions, government agencies, and insurance underwriters.
Specialty Media Installation
Installation of neon, digital, electronic, and interactive art works — including coordination of the mechanical and electrical systems associated with these installations.
Art Handling Capabilities
Preparator Services
Formal art-history and museum-studies backgrounds, 10+ years of preparator experience.
Archival Packing
Custom crates, blanket-wrap, soft-packing for works of any scale.
Climate-Controlled Transport
Air-ride, secure vehicles for ground and air shipment.
Climate-Controlled Storage
Secure, humidity-controlled, with full inventory management.
Condition Reporting
Museum-grade documentation for institutional and audit requirements.
Specialty Media
Neon, digital, electronic, and interactive media installation.
Frequently Asked Questions
What does an art handling company do?
An art handling company provides the specialized services required to move, install, store, and care for works of art — including condition reporting, archival packing, custom crating, climate-controlled transportation, secure storage, and museum-grade installation. Wilson Cetina Group offers all of these services for cultural institutions, public art programs, government agencies, and private collectors.
Does Wilson Cetina Group provide preparator services for museums?
Yes. Our preparators bring formal backgrounds in fine arts, art history, and museum studies, alongside 10+ years of verifiable experience in the installation, care, handling, packing, and transport of art objects. We work with curatorial staff on exhibition planning, lighting installation, and the day-to-day care of rotating exhibitions.
Can Wilson Cetina Group handle airport and high-security art installations?
Yes. Our team has experience operating in active, high-traffic, high-security environments — including airport terminal exhibition programs. We are positioned to support art programs at LAX, transit hubs, and other publicly accessible secure facilities.
Does Wilson Cetina Group provide climate-controlled storage?
Yes. We provide access to secure, climate-controlled storage with appropriate humidity controls for short- and long-term needs, including inventory management, location IDs, and retrieval histories.
Is Wilson Cetina Group bilingual?
Yes. Our team is fully bilingual in English and Spanish across creative, project management, and on-site execution.
Ready to Start Your Art Handling Project?
Tell us about the work, the venue, and the timeline — we'll take it from there.
Get in Touch