Australian entrepreneur invents hardware aimed at making art-handling lower risk and hands-free
Australian entrepreneur Sam Shmith has developed "Artist Engineering (AE) Hardware," a new system designed to reduce damage to artworks during transport and installation by enabling hands-free handling. The system, which uses discreet brackets, aims to minimize risks like fingerprints and repeated drilling, and is currently being assessed by major institutions.
Why it matters
This innovation could significantly reduce financial losses from art damage, improve preservation practices for valuable artworks, and streamline logistics for museums and galleries worldwide.
news Australian entrepreneur invents hardware aimed at making art-handling lower risk and hands-free Artist Engineering Hardware is a new system that aims to reduce damage during transport and installation by eliminating direct contact with works of art Florence Hallett 18 September 2026 Share The new hardware has been installed on a frequently loaned Amy Sherald work at the Crystal Bridges Museum of American Art in Bentonville in the US © Amy Sherald/Artist Engineering
Handling pictures directly will soon become a thing of the past, according to the inventor of a new system for moving works of art. Sam Shmith, the former studio manager for artist Adam Pendleton, developed the system to focus on “the problem of the last 100m” and the even bigger “problem of the last 10m” identified by the Canadian Conservation Institute.
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