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Shipments weighing more than 50 kg must be placed on a pallet — to allow pallet jacks and forklifts to get underneath. The shipment must also be sealed. Why a pallet, and not just a crate on the truck bed floor The reason is that when shipping internationally, a package passes through several sorting centers and gets transferred from one type of transport to another. To move cargo quickly, logistics companies use forklifts with forks, so the shipment needs recessed gaps that let it be lifted and moved without damage. A pallet is exactly what provides those gaps underneath. In international logistics there's an unofficial but widely followed rule of thumb: if a single piece of cargo weighs more than 34 kg (75 lbs), it must go on a pallet — even if it's a single crate rather than a batch of goods. The most common standard in Europe is the EUR/EPAL pallet at 1200×800 mm; international sea and air freight also widely uses the 1200×1000 mm size. It's important that pallet dimensions match standard container openings and the destination country's requirements — otherwise the shipment may be refused at the loading stage. Wooden pallets, like wooden crates, are also subject to mandatory ISPM 15 phytosanitary treatment when crossing a border — without the proper stamp, a pallet can be rejected at customs. Seals: not a formality, but a security requirement Sealing a shipment confirms that no one has had access to it since it was sent. In international logistics, seals are classified into three reliability tiers under the ISO 17712 standard: indicative, security, and high security. For shipments to the US, companies operating under the CTPAT program (Customs-Trade Partnership Against Terrorism) are required to use high-security seals specifically — this applies to virtually all major international carriers, including UPS, FedEx, and DHL. The seal number is always recorded on the waybill — this makes it possible to verify the shipment's integrity at every stage of its movement between sorting centers. Practical tips before shipping — make sure the load is evenly distributed on the pallet and securely fastened with stretch film or strapping — an unstable or shifted load may be refused by the carrier; — the maximum safe height for a palletized load is around 150 cm; taller structures are considered unstable for standard transport; — photograph the packed shipment and the seal number before sending it — this can serve as evidence if a dispute arises with the carrier; — check the specific carrier's requirements in advance, since there is no single universal international palletizing standard — every carrier follows its own internal instructions on top of the general ISPM 15 and ISO 17712 requirements. International companies regularly update their rules on shipping oversized cargo — so before sending a shipment, it's important to check the current palletizing and sealing requirements with your specific carrier in advance.

The major international carriers — FedEx, UPS and DHL — regularly update their rules for oversized shipments. For artists, galleries and collectors, these changes have a direct impact on cost, transit times and the paperwork involved in shipping paintings abroad. Shipping large consignments of artwork — paintings, prints, sculpture — requires purpose-built protective packaging, particularly once dimensions exceed 100×100 cm. In these cases the work is enclosed in a crate built from hardboard, plywood or OSB panels. This adds bulk and weight to the shipment, but it is what gets the piece to its destination intact. Why a wooden crate rather than a cardboard box A wooden crate spreads impact and vibration across the whole structure instead of concentrating it on the corners of the canvas or frame, which is exactly what happens with cardboard. For oversized works this matters: on an air or road route the shipment is transferred between modes of transport several times, and those transfers are when damage most often occurs. ISPM 15: the mandatory international standard If the crate is made of wood — including plywood or hardboard with a wood content — it must be treated in accordance with ISPM 15, the international phytosanitary standard. Treatment is either heat or chemical, and its purpose is to eliminate pests and insect larvae. Without the ISPM 15 stamp on the crate, customs authorities in many countries, the EU, the United States and the United Kingdom among them, are entitled to hold the shipment or require treatment at the border, which costs both time and money. This is why crate construction should be entrusted to a workshop that already holds the relevant certification. What else professional packing involves Beyond the crate itself, several elements are essential to protecting a painting properly: a soft wrap in direct contact with the surface of the work — acid-free paper or silicone-coated (glassine) paper, never bubble wrap pressed straight against the paint layer, where it can adhere to heavily textured brushwork; internal bracing and corner protectors, which hold the frame in place and stop the canvas shifting inside the crate in transit; skids on the base of the crate, so a forklift can get its tines underneath without any risk to the contents; clear handling marks indicating orientation — "this way up", "do not turn over", "fragile". These are not a formality; they are what warehouse staff actually go by at every sorting hub. For especially valuable or vulnerable works — aged oil paint, panel paintings, canvases with an unstable ground — temperature and humidity fluctuations in transit need to be factored in as well. Sharp swings can crack the paint layer even when the physical protection is faultless. Customs considerations also shape the packing Every country operates a customs service, and customs policy is in constant flux. When shipping artwork internationally, all of these factors have to be accounted for, since they affect shipping costs, transit times and additional expenses — duties payable in the destination country, for instance. ArtDom Gallery assists with preparing artwork for international shipping: professional packing to ISPM 15 standard, plus guidance on carriers' current requirements.

Donald Trump introduced customs tariffs that turned the logic of shipping paintings to the US upside down. Since August 29, 2025, a package of any value is subject to mandatory declaration, and the recipient pays duty upon delivery. Previously, gifts, personal items, and commercial shipments valued up to $800 crossed the border duty-free; now that threshold has been eliminated, and only a simplified regime with a fixed fee remains for mail up to $100. For an artist from Ukraine, this isn't an abstract Bloomberg headline — it's a direct hit to the cost of doing business. A client from Brooklyn who ordered a $250 watercolor now gets a DHL receipt with duty and a broker fee, and calls with questions. Let's break down what actually changed, who pays for what, and how to arrange a shipment so it doesn't get stuck in New York for three weeks.

Painting copies have existed for as long as the originals themselves. Copying is even considered a peculiar sign of success: after all, bad paintings wouldn't be copied. According to historical research, as far back as the Renaissance, from the 14th to the 17th centuries, artists used the camera obscura—the ancestor of the photographic camera. This device allowed an image to be projected onto a surface, much like a projector—leaving the artist to simply reproduce it with paints. Since then, the number of ways to create a copy of a painting has only increased. Let's explore how to distinguish an original painting from a fake, the differences between a replica, a copy, and an artist's repetition, and why it's worth establishing authorship before purchasing—especially since a preliminary consultation at ArtDom is available for free.

The global art market is showing signs of recovery in 2026. According to an ArtTactic report, sales at Christie's, Sotheby's, and Phillips grew by 70% year-on-year in the first half of 2026, reaching $6.8 billion. The combined value of the ten most expensive works sold at auction this year reached $767.7 million. The ranking is dominated by paintings by American and European 20th-century artists, along with two sculptures — by Picasso and Brancusi. Most of the records were set within a single week in May, when the major sales took place in New York at Christie's and Sotheby's, together totaling nearly $2.5 billion.

Confirming the authorship of a painting is one of the most sought-after services in the field of art. Owners of artworks often face situations where the work has the artist's signature, but documents confirming its origin are missing. In such cases, there is a need to conduct an attribution expertise. Authorship confirmation may be needed when selling a work, processing an inheritance, insuring, participating in exhibitions, or preparing documents for international transportation, especially if the export of paintings from Ukraine is planned. It is important to understand that an assumption about authorship and an official expert opinion are different things. Only professional research allows establishing the degree of probability that the work belongs to a specific author and processing the corresponding documents. Distinguishing a copy from an original is a very difficult task even for an experienced specialist. For every expert, this is a serious responsibility, since their conclusions involve professional reputation and legal consequences. That is why the results of the research are formalized in the form of a certificate of authenticity of the painting or an attribution opinion.

The era of generative neural networks has radically changed the art industry. Just a few years ago, an artist could calmly publish their works on social networks without fear that someone would reproduce their unique style in a couple of minutes. Today the situation is different: it is enough to upload a dozen images into an artificial intelligence system, and it will learn to create works "in the manner" of any author. This creates serious risks for artists: loss of uniqueness, decrease in the value of works, and reputational problems. Modern image generation technologies can not only copy a specific painting but also imitate an entire artistic style — the manner of brushstroke, color palette, and favorite subjects of the author. Copyright protection in these conditions becomes not a formality but a necessity. High-quality protection directly affects the purchase of paintings and the cost of works. Collectors are increasingly asking about the availability of certificates of authenticity, copyright registration, and other confirmations of uniqueness. In this article, we will examine what protection methods are available to artists today and how to preserve your artistic style in the era of AI.

The international art market continues to develop actively, and Ukrainian artists are increasingly selling their works outside the country. In 2026, international art logistics has undergone a number of changes that affect the rules of registration, customs procedures, and the cost of transportation. It is especially important to consider the new requirements for artists, galleries, collectors, and art dealers who regularly carry out painting delivery abroad . The speed of customs clearance and the safety of the artwork depend on the correct preparation of documents and the choice of shipping method. Today, the main destinations for the export of Ukrainian art remain the United States, the countries of the European Union, and the states of the Middle East.

Legal literacy is just as much a tool for a modern artist's success as high-quality brushes, canvases, or paints. In this article, we have gathered the most popular legal documents that professional artists need to reliably protect their rights, freedoms, and financial interests. All templates have been prepared by experts, drawing on current trends in the contemporary art market and the real needs of both creators and collectors or art dealers. Our materials and every standard contract with an artist are drafted fully in accordance with the provisions of the Civil Code of Ukraine, the specialized Law of Ukraine "On Copyright and Related Rights," as well as key norms of international law (in particular, the Berne Convention).

Many artists, collectors, and owners of artworks face the need to prepare documents for the international transportation of their works. Regardless of whether the painting is being sold, presented at an exhibition, or being moved to another country, one of the mandatory stages becomes the expertise procedure.