![\"art](\"https:\/\/elitetraveler.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/8\/2026\/06\/yacht-art-boat-300x199.jpg\")
<\/div>\nCountless hours are spent poring over the cabling, what kind of wood will be used for the floors, and where to install a pool or add a movie theater. Once all that\u2019s over and done, selecting art and d\u00e9cor can feel a touch superfluous. \u201cIt\u2019s years of work, and the questions feel endless, so by the time it\u2019s down to what\u2019s going on the table, you\u2019re exhausted,\u201d says art dealer and collector Adrian Sassoon<\/a>. \u201cI often find people give more attention to the boat itself, and the objects tend to be a bit off the shelf.\u201d<\/p>\n However, a beautifully designed yacht should feel like a mansion on the water, and that means every last detail must be carefully considered, down to the artwork you hang on the walls. It can feel like a daunting prospect, however, to bring priceless artwork onboard a moving residence that\u2019s surrounded by the sea on all sides. That\u2019s where an expert comes in.<\/p>\n See also:\u00a0An Expert Guide to Yacht Shows Around the World<\/a><\/em><\/p>\n Eugene Layton, head of operations at Gander & White<\/a>, has installed art on countless yachts during his 20-year run at the logistics company. Yet, no matter how much experience he possesses, each project proves to be a unique experience. \u201cNo two have been the same in terms of logistics, or even how to load onto the actual vessel,\u201d he says. \u201cWe\u2019ve had complications on access, on insurance, and the marina.\u201d\u00a0<\/p>\n The logistics company\u2019s approach is a meticulous one, and begins with a site visit, where they\u2019ll take measurements of every single aspect of the yacht \u2013 the team will spend more than a day there if necessary. Afterward, Layton and his team will devise a plan to load the artwork onto the ship, which varies based on the yacht itself, as well as where it\u2019s located. One possible scenario is craning the artwork from Gander & White\u2019s truck to a barge, where it\u2019s then craned from the barge to a bridge deck. The art will be uncrated, installed, and then the crate will be moved back from the barge to the truck.<\/p>\n See also: What It\u2019s Like On Board the Orient Express Corinthian, The \u2018World\u2019s Largest Sailing Yacht\u2019<\/a><\/em><\/p>\n Great care will be taken to leave no trace. \u201cYachts are extremely high-end, and extremely fragile,\u201d he says. \u201cA lot of our process is about protecting the floors and making sure we have a staging area.\u201d Everything the company uses for an install must be brand new, down to the drill bits used to hang a painting \u2013 older tools might cause splintering or leave debris behind. It\u2019s an important consideration for projects both big and small. Layton recalls working on a second yacht for a client in Marseilles that was so large, his team had to use walkie talkies to properly communicate between floors and rooms.<\/p>\n Having a logistics expert to install the pieces is important, but bringing an art consultant on board early can help immensely in curating a beautiful collection. \u201cIt\u2019s a big part of the original layout,\u201d says Guillaume Rolland, principal of design firm Liaigre<\/a>. \u201cWhen we approach a space, it feels a bit like movie making.\u201d In fact, aside from the technical considerations, he thinks of designing and curating art for a yacht as no different from working on a hotel, private residence, or a restaurant. \u201cWe\u2019re architects,\u201d he says. \u201cWe deeply believe everything is ruled by architecture.\u201d\u00a0<\/p>\n Much of the firm\u2019s work complements the yacht\u2019s surroundings, evoking a sense of adventure, but not distracting from the beautiful views that often surround. For example, a recent project had a long wall with a blue mirror stretching across it that almost resembled a window. Liaigre added five seascape photographs by Hiroshi Sugimoto to the wall as well. The mirrors would reflect the horizon, and the artwork would echo this vista, albeit in a different format: \u201cIt\u2019s playing with the magic and the poetry of things,\u201d he says.<\/p>\n There are, of course, a few natural concerns that may arise regarding certain art pieces in a space that\u2019s so close to the natural elements. For Sassoon, however, there\u2019s a simple solution. \u201cIf you as a human being are sitting in a room and you\u2019re not too cold or too hot, and you\u2019re comfortable, then most works of art will be comfortable too,\u201d he says. \u201cYou don\u2019t put a drawing on paper in bright sunlight, but you yourself don\u2019t sit in bright sunlight either.\u201d\u00a0<\/p>\n![\"art](\"https:\/\/elitetraveler.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/8\/2026\/06\/liaigre-yacht-art-installation-2560x1688.jpg\")
![\"liagre](\"https:\/\/elitetraveler.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/8\/2026\/06\/liaigre-yacht-art-2560x1707.jpg\")
![\"art](\"https:\/\/elitetraveler.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/8\/2026\/06\/yacht-art-1707x2560.jpg\")