Help me figure out how to ship very large art from Belgium to NYC?
October 14, 2022 11:49 AM Subscribe
I'm trying to ship some very large artworks from Bruges, Belgium to Brooklyn. The pieces are large
Wondering if anyone have advice on shipping very large artwork from Europe to NYC? Any tips on favorite storage places in the tristate area?
(1) I'm wondering if there any tricks for logistics or reducing mailing costs? I'm assuming we will need to find an art transport company of some kind. We have a contact there who can probably hand it to a shipping company to pick it up. The pieces are very large--one sculptural installation in particular is like the size of a closet or small New York kitchen. Not sure if we can afford to do this!
(2) Logistically, I'm not sure if I understand how I receive the object, since the pieces probably won't fit in my tiny apt or even be able to fit inside a standard sized door. Do I receive the shipment and then wait outside for a storage company to pick it up?
(3) Does anyone have favorite cheap but large and climate-controlled storage in the tristate area?
(1) I'm wondering if there any tricks for logistics or reducing mailing costs? I'm assuming we will need to find an art transport company of some kind. We have a contact there who can probably hand it to a shipping company to pick it up. The pieces are very large--one sculptural installation in particular is like the size of a closet or small New York kitchen. Not sure if we can afford to do this!
(2) Logistically, I'm not sure if I understand how I receive the object, since the pieces probably won't fit in my tiny apt or even be able to fit inside a standard sized door. Do I receive the shipment and then wait outside for a storage company to pick it up?
(3) Does anyone have favorite cheap but large and climate-controlled storage in the tristate area?
Best answer: Boxart and Crozier are two reputable companies Ive worked with, you should contact them.
posted by Admiral Viceroy at 12:23 PM on October 14, 2022 [2 favorites]
posted by Admiral Viceroy at 12:23 PM on October 14, 2022 [2 favorites]
Best answer: I've worked with Crozier and concur!
Where is the art at the moment? If it's in storage, especially art-specific storage, ask that company who they recommend.
I searched "art handlers Belgium" and turned up this one with a Belgian web address: https://www.mobull.be/index_us.html, but there were lots of results that looked worth checking out.
posted by Lawn Beaver at 12:43 PM on October 14, 2022 [1 favorite]
Where is the art at the moment? If it's in storage, especially art-specific storage, ask that company who they recommend.
I searched "art handlers Belgium" and turned up this one with a Belgian web address: https://www.mobull.be/index_us.html, but there were lots of results that looked worth checking out.
posted by Lawn Beaver at 12:43 PM on October 14, 2022 [1 favorite]
Best answer: Send it to a receiver in the NY area. They will accept it and store it. Can be costly. Look at Elite and the like.
Search shipper/receiver and white glove service
posted by JohnnyGunn at 1:58 PM on October 14, 2022 [1 favorite]
Search shipper/receiver and white glove service
posted by JohnnyGunn at 1:58 PM on October 14, 2022 [1 favorite]
I've been a part of something like this, albeit a long time ago. I remember that at some point, customs had to be dealt with, which was arduous. You really want a full-service shipper, if you can swing it.
posted by BlahLaLa at 2:09 PM on October 14, 2022 [1 favorite]
posted by BlahLaLa at 2:09 PM on October 14, 2022 [1 favorite]
Best answer: You can start at TCI and give them your info and let them get estimates. The staff there are friendly and very helpful.
posted by PussKillian at 2:32 PM on October 14, 2022 [1 favorite]
posted by PussKillian at 2:32 PM on October 14, 2022 [1 favorite]
Response by poster: "Artwork" and "Large" are such broad terms as to be fundamentally useless. I suspect you'll get higher quality answers if you go into more detail about what it is you're shipping.
Please see above: "The pieces are very large--one sculptural installation in particular is like the size of a closet or small New York kitchen."
Admiral Victory, Lawn Beaver, PussKillian -- Thank you so much, this is exactly what I wanted! I will follow up with Crozier, Boxart, Elit and TCI.
Lawn Beaver: The artwork is in a warehouse in Bruges, Belgium, though not one that has been especially climate controlled. We are working with a former gallerist who is trying to empty the warehouse ASAP. He definitely has been working to mail other people's art, and he said he would tell us who he's been working with.
BlahLaLa - Thanks for the tip on customs. I saw that some of the art transportation companies seem to handle this, but I will need to check.
I wonder if people have advice on cheap but large storage spaces in New York? I think getting a perfect climate-controlled space might be too expensive for us, so it may be about seeing if we can make do with a Manhattan Ministorage type of situation.
posted by johnasdf at 3:21 PM on October 14, 2022
Please see above: "The pieces are very large--one sculptural installation in particular is like the size of a closet or small New York kitchen."
Admiral Victory, Lawn Beaver, PussKillian -- Thank you so much, this is exactly what I wanted! I will follow up with Crozier, Boxart, Elit and TCI.
Lawn Beaver: The artwork is in a warehouse in Bruges, Belgium, though not one that has been especially climate controlled. We are working with a former gallerist who is trying to empty the warehouse ASAP. He definitely has been working to mail other people's art, and he said he would tell us who he's been working with.
BlahLaLa - Thanks for the tip on customs. I saw that some of the art transportation companies seem to handle this, but I will need to check.
I wonder if people have advice on cheap but large storage spaces in New York? I think getting a perfect climate-controlled space might be too expensive for us, so it may be about seeing if we can make do with a Manhattan Ministorage type of situation.
posted by johnasdf at 3:21 PM on October 14, 2022
If you value the art at all (or if it has any value), you will want to pay to have it crated properly. Unless it is exceptionally valuable art is essentially shipped the same way everything else is; in cargo container on a big boat.
Art crating is it’s own discipline quite apart from shipping. Since the art is in Bruges you will want someone over there to crate it, google ‘kunstwerk kratten bruges’ and start emailing. You will want to be able to provide as much information about the piece as possible. Pictures are helpful.
Most art craters will also facilitate shipping but they all use a shipping broker, you can do this part yourself and possibly save some money but let me warn you its an arcane practice, best to pay someone who does it regularly.
Buy insurance.
posted by Admiral Viceroy at 3:51 PM on October 14, 2022 [3 favorites]
Art crating is it’s own discipline quite apart from shipping. Since the art is in Bruges you will want someone over there to crate it, google ‘kunstwerk kratten bruges’ and start emailing. You will want to be able to provide as much information about the piece as possible. Pictures are helpful.
Most art craters will also facilitate shipping but they all use a shipping broker, you can do this part yourself and possibly save some money but let me warn you its an arcane practice, best to pay someone who does it regularly.
Buy insurance.
posted by Admiral Viceroy at 3:51 PM on October 14, 2022 [3 favorites]
I have worked with a broker named Dietl for international art shipping and can also recommend them. I could not remember this earlier and it was frustrating!
Lots of paperwork, be prepared.
posted by Lawn Beaver at 4:51 PM on October 14, 2022 [1 favorite]
Lots of paperwork, be prepared.
posted by Lawn Beaver at 4:51 PM on October 14, 2022 [1 favorite]
A lot of the art shippers will do storage as well, so you can ask. Most of the warehouses seem to be in Long Island City.
posted by PussKillian at 11:01 AM on October 15, 2022 [1 favorite]
posted by PussKillian at 11:01 AM on October 15, 2022 [1 favorite]
This thread is closed to new comments.
posted by Aleyn at 12:18 PM on October 14, 2022 [1 favorite]