Shipping a painting across the ocean is not for the faint of heart. Unlike a domestic delivery, international transport means entrusting a piece of art—often delicate, irreplaceable, and deeply personal—to a chain of handlers, customs inspections, and long journeys by land, sea, or air. Every artist and gallery has that moment of pause when a crate leaves the studio, bound for another country, knowing it won’t rest easy until they hear those magical words: “It arrived safely.”
The challenges are many. Temperature and humidity changes during transit can affect certain materials, especially in older works or pieces with thick impasto. Rough handling in customs inspections can be problematic if a crate isn’t well built or clearly marked. And let’s not forget the puzzle of international paperwork—commercial invoices, customs declarations, and the ever-changing import laws from country to country.
Then there's the crate itself. For overseas shipping, it's not just a box—it’s a miniature fortress. We use museum-quality materials: high-density foam, vapor barriers, corner braces, and sometimes even climate control packets to ensure the environment inside remains as stable as possible. And yet, despite every precaution, there's always a tiny voice in the back of your mind whispering what if?
But here’s the truth from someone who’s been doing this for two decades: the vast majority of the time, everything works out beautifully.
Yes, we’ve had a few hiccups. A crate delayed in customs here, a scuffed corner there. But out of the hundreds and hundreds of paintings we’ve shipped to collectors all over the globe, only a handful have encountered any real issues. The combination of trusted art couriers, thoughtful packing, and a bit of old-fashioned experience goes a long way.
So if you’re a collector overseas considering acquiring a piece, or an artist nervous about your first international shipment, take heart. With care and planning, art travels well. And from my perspective—after 20 years of watching paintings set off across oceans and continents—it’s a beautiful thing to know that art truly has no borders.
