The Art of Display: Fixing and Presenting Stone Sculpture

It’s so easy for the fixing or display method of a piece of artwork or sculpture to be an afterthought. When you’re deeply involved in making the piece, you risk not spending enough time considering how it will be displayed. But display is almost as important as the artwork itself, it affects how the piece is perceived, how it interacts with its space, and ultimately how it’s appreciated.

Hanging Stone Artwork to a Wall

Over the years, I’ve developed a user-friendly method for hanging my wall pieces. It combines both a mechanical and chemical fixing, which I feel much more comfortable with rather than relying solely on glue.

I cut a slot into the back of the stone, creating space for a purpose-made metal bracket. Once I’ve tested that it fits snugly, I glue it into place using a two-part epoxy resin. A corresponding bracket is delivered with the sculpture, allowing it to be securely (and level!) fixed to the wall. The stone can then be lifted into place, where the two brackets lock together.

Displaying Stone Spheres

Spheres present a different challenge. I wanted the owner of the piece to have the freedom to move it around, choosing how to position it based on light and room layout. Unlike a wall piece, a sphere has no single ‘right’ way to be viewed, it should be adaptable.

I talk through a lot of these practical decisions with my dad. He’s great at problem solving, and we think similarly, so it’s easy to discuss ideas even over the phone. When I explained what I was after, he suggested a simple rope ring for the spheres to rest on. It’s thick enough to protect the surface underneath while also being a natural material that complements the stone. He’s now made plenty of these for me in two different sizes, depending on the sphere.

For a gallery setting, though, I wanted something with a little more refinement. I decided to make leather sandbags as an alternative, offering buyers the choice of aesthetic, something softer and more polished for a white-wall space.

Fixing a Sphere for a Permanent Display

A recent commission for a centenary sculpture at a school required a more secure fixing. Since the sphere would be displayed outdoors, the option to move it wasn’t practical. I also had a specific preference for how it should be viewed.

In this case, I drilled a hole for a dowel in the underside of the sphere, allowing it to be fixed to a plinth. While this meant the sphere itself couldn’t be repositioned, I liked that people could still walk around it, altering their view of the piece.

Fixing Audere: The Balance Between Practicality and Aesthetics

For my latest carving, Audere, I’ve been considering the fixing and display method for nearly as long as the carving itself. To me, the two are equally important. A beautifully crafted object displayed poorly is just as frustrating as a badly carved piece presented well.

Alongside aesthetics, practicality is always a factor. With this piece, I initially avoided the idea of drilling into it. The thought alone filled me with dread (and still does!). I explored many other options, including an elegant bracket system, but I felt that anything external might obscure the carving and detract from the piece.

In the end, I came back to the simplest solution: drilling a hole for a length of threaded bar to be glued into the stone. My initial idea was to mount it on a square piece of oak, with a hidden fixing beneath, allowing it to stand securely without any visible support.

The Final Display Plan

For Audere’s debut at Collect, it will be displayed at the centre of a table among other works. I debated whether it needed a small plinth to lift it slightly from the surrounding pieces. Instead of adding a separate plinth as an afterthought, I’ve decided to make it an integral part of the display. The threaded bar will pass directly into a purpose-made plinth, securing the sculpture while maintaining a sense of it being free-standing. This also provides a practical solution for potential buyers.

All that’s left to do now… is drill the hole!