Fine art transportation
Pickup and delivery across New York City, Long Island and the tri-state area in air-ride, climate-capable vehicles with GPS visibility and liftgate loading.
Fine art movers →Art handling services in New York City
Fine art handlers since 2002. From Long Island City, Aiston packs, crates, moves, installs and stores artwork for collectors, galleries, advisors, designers, estates and institutions.
One team, every handover
Fine art handlers who plan the whole move.
Art handling is more than carrying a crate. A clear move identifies who can release the work, how it is packed, how it gets in and out of each building, who receives it and what happens at the destination. Aiston brings transportation, packing, storage, installation and documentation into one connected service, so those answers are agreed before collection.
Mark Aiston founded the company in 2002 after an art-handling career that began in London in 1983 and continued in New York from 1986. Projects range from a single framed work to gallery transfers, estate moves, storage releases, exhibitions and full collection layouts.
Art handling services
Packing, moving, installing and storing artwork in NYC.
Packing and custom crating
Soft packing, reinforced protection or a custom crate, chosen after the object, route and unpacking have been reviewed.
Packing & crating →Art installation
Hanging and placement planned around dimensions, weight, wall material, hardware, spacing and sightlines, from a single work to salon walls and sculpture.
Art installation →Climate-controlled storage
Storage at the Long Island City facility with planned intake, private viewing and release, so the next move is planned before the work leaves.
Art storage →Art delivery
Gallery-to-client deliveries, auction collections, estate transfers and storage releases, with permission to release the work and receiving contacts confirmed for each handover.
Art delivery service →International shipping
Collection, preparation and information coordinated with brokers, carriers and destination partners for works leaving or arriving in New York.
International art shipping →How a handling job runs
Four connected decisions.
01
Assess
Artwork, medium, dimensions, packing status, access, timing and destination are reviewed together before anything is scheduled.
02
Plan
Crew, vehicle, equipment, protection, route and building requirements are coordinated, including freight elevators, loading windows and COIs.
03
Move
Handlers keep a controlled chain of custody from collection to delivery, with handovers documented according to the project scope.
04
Place
The job closes with placement, installation, storage intake or a documented release, and the object's records stay connected.
Vehicles are chosen for the artwork and the route: air-ride suspension to reduce road shock, climate capability for sensitive media and long routes, GPS visibility for dispatch, and liftgate loading when crates or site conditions need it. About the fleet.
Art handling questions
Before you request a quote
What does an art handler do?
Art handlers pack, crate, move, install and store artwork. At Aiston the same team plans the artwork, access, timing and next step together, so a work can move from a gallery to storage, into a viewing and then to a residence with its handling requirements carried forward.
How long has Aiston been handling art?
Mark Aiston founded Aiston Fine Art Services in New York in 2002, after an art-handling career that began in London in 1983 and continued in New York from 1986.
Can Aiston handle fragile, oversized or complex artworks?
Yes. Each project is planned around the artwork's material, size, fragility, access conditions, route and installation requirements, with custom packing, crating, equipment and handling methods selected as needed.
Who does Aiston handle art for?
Collectors, galleries, advisors, designers, estates, artists, museums, institutions, auction houses and corporate collections.
Where does Aiston work?
Aiston is based in Long Island City and supports projects throughout Manhattan, Brooklyn, Queens, the Hamptons, Long Island, the tri-state area, and domestic or international destinations by request.
What should I send for a quote?
Artwork photos, dimensions, medium, weight if known, pickup and delivery addresses, access notes such as stairs or elevators, the requested date, insurance needs and any special handling concerns.