When creating custom wallpaper for museum and gallery exhibitions, the demands go beyond aesthetics. Color accuracy, archival-quality materials, faithful reproduction of intricate designs, and smooth collaboration between creative and technical teams are crucial to honoring the artwork and space.
We recently collaborated with New York City’s Museum of Modern Art PS1 in Queens on a custom wallpaper design and installation for Islands in the Cloud, an exhibition by the forward-thinking Amsterdam-based design collective Metahaven — known for blending political inquiry with avant-garde aesthetics.
Translating Vision Into Immersive Design
The wallpaper was conceived as an extension of Metahaven’s complex visual language—layered digital compositions, exploring social and political narratives. Our role was to transform these evolving, nuanced designs into a large-scale physical environment that envelops visitors in the exhibition’s conceptual framework that integrated various media for a multifacted and immersive experience.
Project Specifications
Creative Status: Print Ready Digital File Material: Type 2, Fabric Backed, Unpasted Traditional Total: 1500+ square feet
Archival-Grade Printing for Lasting Impact
Museum settings demand materials that endure both time and lighting conditions without compromising visual integrity. To meet these standards, we selected Type 2, 20 ounce museum-grade wallpaper substrates combined with UV-cured, pigment-based inks. This combination ensures colorfastness and resistance to fading, maintaining vibrancy even under intense gallery lighting.
The tactile quality of the substrate was chosen to complement the exhibition’s tone, making the wallpaper an integral part of the artwork rather than a mere backdrop.
Collaboration Across Creative and Technical Teams
Close, ongoing communication between Metahaven’s creative directors, MoMA PS1 curators, and our production specialists was key. This partnership enabled us to anticipate technical challenges and adapt fluidly to the collective’s evolving visual approach.
We implemented rigorous color proofing and calibration processes involving multiple iterations, ensuring each shade and shadow was reproduced with exacting fidelity.
Installation Coordination and Execution
Working alongside the museum’s operations team, we carefully planned delivery and installation logistics to minimize disruption to daily activities. Clear guidelines and on-site support facilitated a seamless installation that respected the space and its visitors.
Lessons Learned
This project reinforced the importance of early and sustained collaboration with artists and curators to translate complex, evolving artworks into physical forms. The iterative process of color calibration and proofing is essential in preserving artistic nuance and avoiding costly delays.
Furthermore, selecting materials that reflect the materiality and tone of the exhibition enhances the cohesive quality of the installation.
This collaboration exemplifies how museum-grade custom wallpaper—crafted with artistic sensitivity and technical precision—can transform exhibition spaces into immersive storytelling environments that resonate deeply with audiences.
About the Author
Joseph Gornail is a multimedia artist and fourth-generation print craftsman whose family has lived on the same block in SoHo for over 90 years. With an extensive background in photography, writing and creative direction, Joseph has a love of the arts and a proud New Yorker. When he’s not documenting city life or curating historic images for History101.nyc, he can likely be found sailing the New York harbor to enjoy his native city from a different perspective.