Gallery walls can take a beating, even if everyone is told to keep their hands to themselves. Everything from high traffic crowds to bulky art displays can start to break down the drywall. If you are using a rented space, make sure you get the deposit back and keep your reputation as a tenant in good condition. Here's how to protect the space.

Use center displays for three dimensional or pointy artwork. 

Some artwork isn't designed to be displayed against a wall. These are great opportunities to have central displays that visitors can walk around. Not only does that allow every side of the art to be shown and enjoyed, it keeps the sharp sides away from the walls. Limiting contact is best for both the piece and the wall, so make sure you always have a backup inventory of ropes, adjustable lighting, and raised platforms.

Use a hanging rod system to control the display's weight.

Some artwork is heavy even when it's two dimensions. Frames, layers of paint, and even metal canvases have a lot of mass, and the pressure they put on hanging hardware isn't always evenly distributed. Instead of trying to use embedded hooks to center and straighten the artwork, a hanging rod system supports the weight and uses a bar along the ceiling's edge for structural integrity. 

There are several benefits of minimizing points of contact with the walls. You don't have to worry about finding the studs or inbuilt structural supports hidden in the walls. You also don't have to worry about clipping a pipe or wire if you're nailing something into the wall. Hanging rods can even support the piece of art from more than two points so you can support it off the wall entirely for a dramatic shadowed effect.

Go to Systematic Art for the hardware and support equipment to keep the art safe and get your deposit back.