How to Make an Industrial Art Track to Display Your Artwork

I am always looking for great affordable ways to hang art in my home that will add a design element to the room. I also love to be able to change out my art whenever I want. This art track project is the perfect way to continually rotate you art and doesn't cost a fortune. You don't even have to buy picture frames!

You can complete this project for as little as $50 is you don't buy an expensive curtain rod. To save some money or create and industrial touch replace the curtain rod with some plumbing pipes.

To Make an Affordable Art Track System You Will Need:

1 Curtain Rod and Hardware (Choose Your Own Length)
Binder Clips (The rings used to hold notebook paper together)
Plexiglas
Metal Clips
Artwork, Photos…
Colored Paper (optional)

To start this project you need to install your curtain rod onto the wall. I like to hang the curtain or about 6 feet high off the ground so that when the art is hung from the track it is at eye level. You will have to establish you own height though.

Cut you plexi glass out to the size you need for your art. I ended up with three 16X20 inch pieces. Double this so you have a front and back for your art work. I ended up with six identical pieces.

Lay out your piece of plexi glass; lay down your paper, then your artwork. Top this off with another piece of plexiglass. The colored art paper acts as a matte to your artwork, but it is optional. Hand made paper and scrap book paper look fabulous in this project. Hold then entire frame together with metal office supply clip. I recommend two on each side. You can do as many as you wan though.

Use the binder rings to loop through your clips and then attach them to the curtain rod. You can easily slide you artwork back and forth on this track. Repeat the process with the rest of your frames and art work.

In place of a curtain rod you could also use copper pipes, wooden dowels, and almost any long straight rod. You can give these rods a more finished looked by painting them with a hammered metal spray paint. An antique white spray paint would also be nice.

If you are using wooden frames for your art work you won't need the clips. Buy some screw in eye hooks instead. Attach two eyehooks into the top of each frame by pre drilling a tiny hole. Loop you binder ring through the eye hook and use it to attach you art work to the track.

For some added detail you can paint a background color behind your art track. Before you install the hanging system, tape off a rectangle on the wall with painter's tape. Roll on your paint and allow it to dry. Now hang your curtain rod. Your art will take on new meaning hanging on the track. This is also a great touch if you are using black and white photos.

To cover a really tall or large wall you can hang your framed art work two and three deep. Use binder rings to attach framed art together vertically but looping them through the bottom and top clips of the two framed pieces of art. You don't need to connect them horizontally unless you just want to.

For more visual interest try cutting your plexi glass frames to different sizes. This way the eye will travel up and down from artwork to artwork. You could also use longer vertical art in one frame and square shaped art in other frames.