Application

Gallery and Museum Lighting

By KELVANO Lighting EngineeringLast reviewed 16 October 2026

Galleries use Ra 90 track and zoom spots aimed at about 30° from vertical, which lights work evenly and throws glazing reflections to the floor rather than at visitors. Conservation guidance commonly limits light-sensitive works such as paper, textiles and photographs to around 50 lx, and oil and acrylic paintings to about 150–200 lx.

Gallery and museum lighting illustration, KELVANO

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Gallery and museum lighting uses Ra 90 track spots and zoom spots on flexible track, aimed at about 30° to each work, with light levels kept within conservation limits for sensitive pieces. Track lets the lighting follow every new exhibition, zoom spots fit each work’s size, and high colour rendering shows paint and materials as the artist intended. KELVANO supplies the track spots, zoom spots and grid downlights for galleries, museums and art retail.

What a gallery needs

Need	Why	What we supply
True colour	Paintings and objects must look as intended	Ra 90 series on our track pages
Flexibility	Every exhibition hangs differently	LED track lighting on 3-circuit track
Beam to fit each work	Small works and large canvases need different beams	Zoomable track spotlight, 15° to 60°
Conservation	Sensitive works need low, controlled light	Dimmable drivers: Triac, 0-10V, DALI, Bluetooth
No glare or reflections	Visitors look at glazed and varnished works	Correct aiming angle, deep optics

Conservation light levels

Light causes fading over time. Your conservator sets limits for each piece, but common guidance is:

Sensitivity	Typical examples	Common guidance
High	Works on paper, textiles, photographs, watercolours	About 50 lx
Moderate	Oil and acrylic paintings, wood, lacquer	About 150 to 200 lx
Low	Stone, metal, ceramics, glass	Set by display needs

White LEDs give off very little ultraviolet or infrared, the main causes of fading and heat damage from older sources. Dimmable drivers let you hold each work at its limit; see the LED dimming guide.

Aiming and beam angle

Aim at about 30° from vertical. This lights the work evenly and throws reflections from glazing down to the floor rather than into visitors’ eyes.
Match the beam to the work. Narrow 15° beams for small works; 36° or more, or two spots, for large canvases.
Use a zoom spot where works change often. The zoomable track spotlight adjusts from 15° to 60° on the head, so one fitting fits the next hang.

See the beam angle guide for spot sizes by distance.

Colour temperature

Around 3000K is common for paintings and historic objects, giving a warm, natural feel. Contemporary galleries often use around 4000K for a neutral, white-wall look. Most of our spot series can be supplied with a switch that selects one of three colour temperatures on site, so each room can be set to its exhibition. Exact settings are confirmed per model on your quotation.

Beyond the walls

Sculpture and objects: two or three spots from different angles show form and texture.
Circulation and entrances: anti-glare downlights for an even, calm base light.
Gallery shops and art retail: see retail store lighting.

Plan your gallery

Send your floor plan, ceiling height and the types of works you show. We return a spot selection, with a quotation within 24 hours. We can prepare a lighting layout for qualified projects. Orders run from 50 units to full projects.

Request a quote → · WhatsApp +86 189 9834 8092 · info@kelvano.co · replies within business hours (GMT+8)

FAQ

Questions from specifiers

What lighting is best for an art gallery?

Track spots with high colour rendering. Track lets the lighting move with each exhibition, spots put light on each work, and Ra 90 or higher shows paint colours accurately. A zoom spot adds flexibility for works of different sizes.

How much light can artworks take?

Light-sensitive works such as works on paper, textiles and photographs are commonly limited to around 50 lx. Moderately sensitive works such as oil and acrylic paintings are commonly lit at around 150 to 200 lx. Your conservator sets the limits for each piece.

Is LED safe for artworks?

White LEDs give off very little ultraviolet or infrared radiation, which are the main causes of fading and heat damage from older light sources. Light itself still causes fading over time, so exposure limits still apply.

What beam angle suits a painting?

Match the beam to the size of the work and the distance from the track. Small works need narrow beams around 15°; large canvases need wider beams, 36° or more, or two spots. A zoom spot adjusts from 15° to 60° on the head.

Where should the track be positioned?

A common guide is to aim spots at artworks at about 30° from vertical. This lights the work evenly and keeps reflections off glazed works and away from visitors' eyes.

Request a quotation

Send your floor plan.
Get a lux layout back.

Quotation within 24 hours, FOB, or DDP for the UK and EU, pricing by quantity
Samples are charged at USD 100–300 per piece, depending on the product and its configuration. Standard samples are ready in 7 days; samples that need new tooling are quoted with their own lead time. The sample charge is credited against your first order over USD 3,000 placed within six months.
Orders of around 500 units ship in 25–35 days from the deposit; larger or customised orders are confirmed on the proforma invoice.
IES and LDT photometric files can be measured for project specifications
Answered by our project team