Forget flat, explore your space: a completely new way to hang art
9.10.2026
Translation: Patrik Stainbrook
Pictures: Pia Seidel
I thought I knew every possible way to hang a picture. Then I came across an approach that turns everything on its head – literally.
Picture, nail, wall, done. Lately, however, I’ve noticed ever more ways to display art. From pictures and mirrors that dangle from the ceiling on visible chains to photos that simply lie loosely in a bowl. And once more, I’ve found something new I simply can’t keep to myself: artwork hanging against the wall with just one edge touching it and extending freely into the room.
Instead of hanging flat, the art’s positioned perpendicular to the wall, much like an old-timey tavern sign. You no longer see it head-on, but only notice it as you walk by. That’s exactly what makes it so appealing. And the principle isn’t tied to any specific medium. Whether it’s an acrylic sheet, a stretched canvas or a marble slab, the only thing that matters is whether the art has a sturdy edge. With the risk that only one side will be interesting to look at. Or the upside that both could look neat.
I’ve seen this concept on display three times – in Mexico, Zurich and Lausanne.
1. Leaf between acrylic: Miguel Cinta Robles
CM/SC2 by Mexican artist Miguel Cinta Robles has been on display at the N.A.S.A.L. gallery in Mexico City. Sandwiched between two acrylic panels are a large, perforated sheet, a piece of bark and a strand of jonote. The whole thing’s held together by chrome-plated screws and nuts. And it all hangs against the wall by its narrow side, held in place by two simple, galvanised perforated plates.
It’s precisely these perforated plates that make them so appealing: they’re ordinary flat connectors, the kind you can find at any hardware store. Nothing about it is hidden or glossed over. As a result, steel’s listed on an equal footing with bark, leaves and thread in the official list of materials.
And since the acrylic’s transparent, the artwork comes at you from both directions. At the same time, it casts a sharp shadow on the wall that’s almost as prominent as the artwork itself. And yet, it only measures 30 by 25 centimetres.
2. Two pieces, two suns: Claire Eppley
During Zurich Design Weeks, Raw Senses staged the Selling Sunset installation in a building undergoing renovation – former offices that’ll soon be converted into apartments. The space remained the same, but its purpose changed. In it, Claire Eppley installed two pieces back to back, perpendicular to the wall. Midnight Waves facing the rising sun and Midnight Harmony facing the sunset.
Both change throughout the day as the light shifts and casts its reflections. At noon, the sun’s hidden behind a column. Both pieces are at their darkest then, a sort of midnight in broad daylight.
I find it fascinating how open-ended the design remains. The dark red fabric is drawn in straps across the stretcher frame, so that you can see the bright wooden slats between the folds. In contrast, the back of Midnight Waves is completely unadorned. There’s only black fabric, visibly stapled together, with the name written by hand on the crossbar. Things that’d otherwise disappear into a warehouse are displayed in the light.
3. Marble at the edge of the wall: Simon Deppierraz
During the fifth À l'Abordage in Lausanne, hosted in a former private bank inside a manor house, I saw Spirelli by Simon Deppierraz. The topic of the exhibition was a perfect fit: materiality, a return to the tangible.
The materials listed are marble, rope and steel. And that’s exactly what you see. Six holes have been drilled into the marble slab, through which a black rope is threaded. Zigzagging across the surface, it’s knotted at the top with the loose end simply hanging down at the bottom. A carabiner holds the mechanism in place by a small eyelet.
What matters, however, is where this eyelet is located. It’s inside a narrow wall pillar between the glass door and the room, barely wider than the panel itself. This way, the marble slab extends beyond the pillar on both sides and reaches freely into the room.
It’s the most radical version of today’s principle. There’s also something particularly unusual when it comes to stone here. In our minds, marble belongs on a pedestal, on surfaces or in the floor. Here, it hangs from a string, showing off its rough broken side in profile – thickness, weight, jagged edge.
Mount mandatory
What all these examples have in common: the mount isn’t hidden, it’s visible. Perforated plate, stretcher frame, carabiner, none of them are concealed. For Robles and Deppierraz, the mount even made it into the official specifications. The same idea applies as with the paintings on visible chains.
This whole concept also changes the way you shop. You’re no longer looking for the most inconspicuous mount, but rather the one that suits your artwork. And it’s perfect to be unrefined: Robles’ galvanised flat connectors cost just a few francs and still look great.
Why this is more than just sleight of hand
- Adds depth: The artwork breaks up a one-dimensional wall surface and takes on a sculptural quality. Only then will you see how thick, heavy or coarse the material really is.
- More movement: The piece changes with every step. Front on, you can only see the edge; from the side, you can see the entire surface.
- Light and shadow come into play: Daylight no longer hits the artwork head-on but from the side, casting a shadow on the wall that shifts as the day progresses. In Eppley’s work, this alters the colours; in Robles’s, it even changes the shadow itself.
- Corners and edges become usable: Narrow sections of wall, pillars or the end of a hallway – where a picture usually wouldn’t work – suddenly become useful.
- Double the fun: Since both sides are visible, you can display two designs.
The risk: that second side
But time to be fully honest. As soon as something protrudes into your room, its actual back side becomes visible as well. There are four ways to deal with this:
- Two pieces back to back: Use the Eppley way. At home, simply place two frames of the same size together, back to back.
- Use transparency: Two panes of glass, with the motif floating between them, as in Robles’ work. Then there isn’t a single downside.
- Show off the back side: Raw wood, visible staples, labels. When intentionally displayed, it can look open and inviting rather than sloppy.
- Turn the boring side away: Position your pieces so that their less interesting side faces the window or a dead corner.
How to do it for real
- Take the weight seriously: The load will be suspended entirely by one edge, acting like a long lever. For stone, ceramic or larger pieces, it’s better to overestimate than underestimate.
- Two mounting points: Prevents the structure from tilting or twisting. Just one point works for deliberate rocking, as in Deppierraz’s piece.
- Find the narrowest spot: A wall pillar or a door jamb enhances the effect. A flat picture never looks right there anyway.
- Secure firmly to the wall: Use anchors and screws instead of adhesive hooks; for drywall, use cavity anchors. If the object’s made of stone or is very heavy, it’s best to consult a professional.
- Start small: Robles’ work is just 30 by 25 centimetres. A smaller size is more than enough to achieve the desired effect.
- Allow for space: Leave at least an arm’s length of space in front of it. In narrow hallways, it’s better to hang pieces higher or choose smaller ones.
If you’re still missing the right materials for your first attempt, here are my favourites.
Wall plugs
Quantity discount
EUR5,59 per piece for 3 units EUR1,40/1pcs.
Fischer Hollow metal dowel HM 5x65 S K
4 pcs.
Wood connectors
Alberts Furniture bracket,szvz,50x50x10,GP12StKAR
Angle connector, Log connectors, 12 pcs.
Quantity discount
EUR5,82 per piece for 2 units
Artico Painting canvas, 30 x 40 cm
Quantity discount
EUR5,59 per piece for 3 units EUR1,40/1pcs.
Fischer Hollow metal dowel HM 5x65 S K
4 pcs.
EUR19,49
ProPlus Carabiner stainless steel 2 pieces
Helpmate Perforated plate
Flat connectors, 12 pcs.
Relaxdays 288x spacers
7.50 cm, 3.50 cm
Alberts Furniture bracket,szvz,50x50x10,GP12StKAR
Angle connector, Log connectors, 12 pcs.
Would you hang art diagonally into the room – or do you think it’d get in the way too much in everyday life?
Header image: Pia Seidel
Pia Seidel
Senior Editor
Pia.Seidel@digitecgalaxus.chLike a cheerleader, I celebrate good design and bring you closer to everything furniture- and interior design-related. I regularly curate simple yet sophisticated interior finds, track down trends and interview creative minds about their work.
Guide
Practical solutions for everyday problems with technology, household hacks and much more.
Show allThese articles might also interest you
Show all
39 comments
later