LED picture lights
LED PICTURE LIGHTS
Good art lighting starts with what the work needs: a canvas, a framed photograph, a tapestry or a sculpture only comes alive under a source with high colour rendering, an adjustable beam that stays on the work, and light that is gentle on pigments. Poorly lit, the work looks dull and flat. For homes, galleries, offices and stores, LEDCO offers track kits, track or monopoint spotlights, recessed lights and wall washers.
Picture light or ceiling spotlight: two ways to light a work
Rather than a picture light fixed to the frame, our solutions light the work from the ceiling. The light comes from farther away and covers the whole canvas, no wire runs down the wall, and the head can be re-aimed when you rehang the pieces. The choice then depends on the number of works: a track for a gallery wall, a monopoint for a single painting, a recessed light for a clean ceiling, a wall washer for an entire wall.
4' 3-head LED track kit: the gallery wall at home
To light a wall of paintings in a living room, a hallway or a home office, the 4' 3-head 30W 5CCT dimmable LED track light kit is the simplest solution: a 4-foot track on the ceiling, three adjustable heads, five selectable colour temperatures and dimmable output. Each head can be aimed at a different work. The GU10 surface-mount track with adjustable heads, which takes GU10 bulbs, is another option; see also our LED ceiling track lighting.
12W 38° and 10W 45° track spotlights: galleries and exhibition walls
In a gallery, an art shop or a corporate lobby, the track holds as many spotlights as needed, and each one moves as exhibitions change. Our LED spotlights on tracks cover several needs: a 12W spotlight with a 38° beam for well-defined light on a medium canvas, a 10W 5CCT track head with a 45° beam for a wider beam, or an 8W spotlight for small works. Models with PAR20, PAR30 or PAR38 bases let you choose the bulb; the tracks are in our tracks and connectors.
TL 20W monopoint: one painting, one fixture
When a single painting deserves all the attention, above a fireplace, at the end of a hallway or in a meeting room, a full track isn't necessary. The black monopoint TL 20W CCT LED spotlight mounts at a single point on the ceiling and is aimed at the work. The suspended TL 20W CCT version drops below a high ceiling to bring the source closer to the canvas, and the PAR20 surface spotlight mounts directly, with no track.
Trimless recessed lights: light the work without showing the fixture
In a room where the ceiling must stay clean, well-placed recessed lights illuminate the artwork without drawing attention to the source. The DLT 4" square trimless 12W LED recessed light and its round version blend into the drywall, with no visible trim. To direct light toward a wall rather than the floor, ask us which of our LED ceiling downlights can be aimed.
LED wall washers: an entire wall, a mural or a fresco
For a large wall covered with artwork, a mural or a fresco, it's better to bathe the whole wall in even light than to light each frame separately. LED wall washers do exactly that. Indoors, the 24W/m LED wall washer strip, hidden in a cornice or in the ceiling, washes the wall with continuous light. For a façade or a very large mural, RGBW wall washers such as the #WW1 or the #WW2 even let you vary the colours.
What lighting for artwork must deliver
The fixture matters less than what it delivers. Four criteria make the difference between a work that is showcased and a work that is merely lit:
- High colour rendering: the higher it is, the more faithful the nuances of an oil painting, a watercolour or a photograph appear. Check it on each product sheet.
- Little UV: unlike halogen and fluorescent, LEDs emit very little, which is gentle on pigments, paper and textiles.
- An adjustable beam: the light stays on the work without spilling onto the wall.
- Dimmable output: you adjust the light to the work and the time of day.
Technical tips for lighting a painting
Aim for about 30° from vertical. The light covers the canvas while limiting reflections on the frame's glass.
Match the beam to the work. The 38° frames a medium canvas, the 45° covers a wider work, the 8W is enough for small formats.
Re-aim instead of moving wires. On a track, a new hanging is adjusted by turning the heads.
Try the whites in front of the work. With a 5CCT fixture, you compare colour temperatures on site before choosing.
For a gallery wall, an art gallery or a corporate collection, contact our team with the dimensions of your works and the room. We'll help you choose the fixtures, the beam angles and the track location for your art lighting.
Art Lighting FAQ
What's the best track lighting for art?
At home, the 4' 3-head LED track kit, dimmable and 5CCT, lights a complete gallery wall. In a gallery, you choose spotlights according to the works: 12W at 38° for a medium canvas, 10W at 45° for a wider beam. Either way, the track lets you re-aim the heads with every new hanging.
Do LEDs damage paintings?
LEDs emit very little UV, unlike halogen and fluorescent. They are therefore gentle on pigments, paper and textiles, which makes them a good choice for lighting a collection.
How do I avoid reflections on the frame's glass?
Position the spotlight or recessed light so the light falls on the work at about 30° from vertical. That angle balances a well-covered canvas with glass free of distracting glare.
Which colour temperature for a painting?
It depends on the work and the room, and your eye decides. The 5CCT track kit and the 10W 5CCT track head offer five colour temperatures: you compare on site, in front of the painting, before settling on your choice.
Which art lighting works for a large mural?
For a mural or a fresco, a wall washer beats a row of picture lights: set in a cornice, the 24W/m strip spreads the light over the entire surface. On a façade, the RGBW #WW1 or #WW2 wall washers add colour.
