Pumpkin by Yayoi Kusama moments before being swept into the sea. Photo courtesy of Architectural Digest
Protecting Your Art Collection from Extreme Weather Events
Art collections, whether personal or institutional, represent cultural, historical, and financial investments that require careful protection. With the increasing frequency of extreme weather events—such as hurricanes, floods, wildfires, and heatwaves—safeguarding artwork has never been more crucial. Without proper precautions, valuable pieces can be damaged by moisture, heat, wind, or even physical displacement. Here are five essential steps collectors can take to protect their artwork from environmental hazards.
1. Have an Emergency Preparedness Plan
A well-structured emergency plan can mean the difference between saving or losing valuable pieces. Start by identifying the most vulnerable artworks in your collection and prioritizing those for protection or evacuation in case of an emergency.
Create a disaster response checklist that includes:
2. Protective Measures
For fine paintings, prints, and photographs, museum-grade framing is essential. UV-protective glass or acrylic can prevent sun damage, while airtight backing can help guard against moisture and pollutants. Sculptures and mixed-media pieces should be placed on stable surfaces.
In areas prone to hurricanes or strong winds, avoid displaying art near windows or doors where flying debris could cause damage. If extreme weather is anticipated, consider temporarily relocating valuable pieces to a more secure location.
For outdoor sculptures, additional measures are necessary. Ensure sculptures are anchored securely to their bases to withstand high winds or seismic activity. If possible, relocate smaller sculptures indoors during storms or extreme weather conditions. Consult with a professional art conservator if its appropriate to add weather-resistant materials and protective coatings to prevent corrosion, fading, or structural weakening from exposure to rain, snow, and extreme heat—however, ensure that these coatings don’t devalue the originality of the artwork or it’s naturally occurring patina.
3. Elevate & Secure
Flooding is one of the most common and destructive risks to an art collection. To minimize potential damage:
Additionally, earthquake-prone regions should use specialized mounting hardware to secure artworks to walls and shelves, reducing the risk of falling or shifting during seismic activity.
4. Ensure Comprehensive Documentation & Appraisals
Regularly update appraisals every 3 years to ensure proper valuation in case of loss or damage.
Maintain detailed records, including:
Store these documents digitally and keep backup copies in a secure offsite location or cloud storage.
5. Insurance: Homeowners vs. Fine Art Policy
Even with the best precautions, disasters can still happen. Collectors should consider separate art insurance coverage instead of relying solely on traditional homeowner’s insurance. Having comprehensive fine art insurance tailored to cover natural disasters is essential, especially in states prone to extreme weather events, such as California and Florida.
Homeowner’s policies often have coverage limits and exclusions that may not fully protect high-value, rare, or fragile artworks from risks like extreme weather events, theft, accidental damage, or loss during transit. Those who own valuable collections, frequently exhibit or transport art should opt for specialized art insurance to ensure adequate protection. This coverage typically provides higher limits, broader protection, and expert claims handling tailored to the unique needs of art assets.
6. How We Can Help
At Art Peritus, we handle every aspect of overseeing your art collection, from inventory management to logistics and conservation, appraisals and insurance claims to art crisis management. Although USPAP-compliant appraisals are our specialty, we do so much more to help protect and manage your collection. Email, call or click HERE to see how we can assist.
###
