Warm Climates and Fine Art: What Collectors Need to Know

Sizzling temperatures and lazy poolside afternoons have long been immortalized in art. David Hockney’s A Bigger Splash (1967), for instance, captures the fleeting moment of relief that follows a plunge into cool water. Just beyond the end of a diving board, a white spray breaks the pool’s surface. In the background, a folding chair sits on a sunlit deck before a rose-clay mid-century home, its glass doors reflecting palm trees and distant high-rises.

While the painting evokes the ease of a summer day, it also contains many of the natural elements that can threaten a work of art. As more collectors spend part or all the year in warm climates, safely transporting fine art to these destinations has become an increasingly important consideration. Heat, light, and humidity can all damage the delicate materials found in paintings, prints, and photographs.

Maria Cabrejas, Director of Business Development, Specialised Service at UOVO Art notes, “Climate fluctuations pose risks to artworks during transit—especially when moving between distinct regional environments, such as the moderate climates of the Northeast and the extreme summer heat and humidity of the Southern states. Beyond climate-controlled vehicles, customized packing and post-transit care are critical to protecting delicate pieces.”

With these environmental risks in mind, we’ll explore how heat and humidity affect fine art, how to prepare your home for a delivery, and how insurance can help protect your collection throughout the process. After all, while taking a dip after a day in the sun may be refreshing, it’s not an experience you’d want for your artwork.

1. Heat

Like plastic beach toys left in a hot sandbox, paintings “melt” when exposed to high temperatures. Oil and acrylic paints contain binders that soften when heated, causing the paint to become sticky or mobile. The mobile paint can then stick to packaging materials and other surfaces. Items that touch soft surfaces can leave indentations, disrupting either polished or impasto paint applications. Also, with the softening of paint, dirt and dust can permanently adhere to the surface. Heat also makes materials expand and cooling contracts them. The different expansion and contraction rates cause paint to crack or flake off the surface. No one wants their masterpiece to slowly melt away, like a sandcastle eroded by the sea.

Consider the following tips to help prevent heat damage:

• Store fine art in a climate-controlled vehicle.
• Place a non-stick barrier like glassine paper or silicone release paper over the painted surface.
• Wrap the artwork in thermal or insulating materials. (However, use bubble wrap on the outer layer only)
• Avoid stacking or pressure.

2. Light

You don’t want the vivid colors of a fine art photograph to fade like a sun-bleached umbrella. Light rays can impair the dyes, silver particles, and binders in a process called photodegradation. Specifically, UV light breaks down molecular bonds and visible blue light can lead to washed-out images and loss of depth. In color images, photodegradation causes the dye layers to fade at different rates, leading to color shifts. In black and white photographs, light exposure causes silver particles oxidize or rearrange, resulting in loss of contrast and detail. Furthermore, UV exposure oxidizes photo paper materials, turning them yellow or brown. Keep in mind that even multiple, short-term exposures add up overtime. Remember the umbrella analogy? With each passing beach season, the hued shade turns from crimson to rose.

Here are our suggestions to help minimize (prevent) light damage:

• Frame the work in UV-protective glass or acrylic.
• Keep light levels low and indirect.
• Avoid displaying or hanging the work where sunlight hits it directly.
• Select proper lighting.
  • Fluorescent lights, if unfiltered, and emit UV rays
  • Halogen bulbs can produce heat

3. Humidity

While the humidity-laden air gives life to tropical plants and conjures the scent of coconut fruit and vanilla pods, this environment is not conducive to the organic materials of fine artworks. To provide scientific context, relative humidity (RH) is a measure of water vapor compared to the amount of water vapor that air at a certain temperature can hold.[i] Warm air can hold more water vapor than cold air. High relative humidity can cause warping (distortion of the work’s surface) or the development of mold. Works on paper and books are especially susceptible to humidity damage. The fragile pulp or parchment can wrinkle and fungi can flourish, leading to molding.

To prevent this, we recommend the following preventative measures:

• Maintain stable relative humidity levels. Fluctuation can cause expansion and contraction of materials.
• Use a hygrometer to monitor humidity in the room.
• Ensure proper air circulation.
• Use moisture-resistant materials to package art.

4. Home

Before a hotel guest arrives, the house manager will turn on the AC, monitor the humidifier, prepare the rooms, and have someone at the check-in desk. The same could be said about arranging for an artwork to be delivered at a home in a warm climate without preparing for its arrival. The last thing an art lover wants is for their new acquisition to be delivered to an unstable environment, left unsecured, or for it to be installed in the wrong spot.

Furthermore, just like some travelers after a long journey, some artworks need time to acclimate to their new settings. “Upon arrival, artworks should be allowed to acclimatize in unopened crates for a minimum of 24 hours before installation,” said Maria. “This gradual transition prevents possible shock caused by sudden shifts in temperature and humidity.”

5. Insurance

Just as travelers research the land and customs of a destination before departure, collectors should become familiar with the provisions of their collectibles policy before packing, handling, and shipping a work of art. What does it cover or what does it not cover? Collectibles policies often have sections outlining the conditions of packing, handling, and transit. As a condition of coverage, many collectibles policies require insureds to hire competent packers, handlers, and shippers experienced in transporting fine art. Be sure to hire competent and professional art industry specialists. There are numerous shipping services available in the market, but not all have employees trained in handling fine art. If you are overwhelmed by choice, Berkley One/your insurance carrier can help provide you with vetted recommendations. Qualified shippers offer services such as custom crates, packing solutions, and transit routes.

A condition report for the artwork (usually completed by the gallery or auction house) documents the work’s condition at the time of purchase. This may be needed in the event anything happens during transit.

Just as the splash in Hockney’s iconic painting captures a fleeting moment, the condition of an artwork can be altered in an instant when exposed to heat, light, and humidity. With thoughtful preparation and proper transportation, collectors can help protect their artwork from avoidable damage and preserve its condition for years to come.

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About Berkley One

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