In early 2025, Queen’s was entrusted with a complex international project: coordinating the safe movement of Anselm Kiefer’s monumental works between the Ashmolean Museum in Oxford and the Hall Art Foundation. The project spanned multiple jurisdictions, including Switzerland, Belgium, and the UK, and required precision scheduling, customs expertise, specialist fabrication, and secure handling at every stage.
From the beginning, Queen’s worked closely with both institutions to shape a detailed quotation and project plan. Transparent discussions about trucking schedules and routing options ensured clarity for all parties. As the scope expanded, Queen’s adapted, incorporating the fabrication of custom T-frames, the coordination of international shipments, and secure overnight storage at our climate-controlled London facility.
We also advised on complex customs arrangements, ensuring smooth export and import processes for both artworks and exhibition hardware. Dedicated technicians handled loading and installation, while project managers provided clear communication and prompt solutions to emerging challenges.
The project was delivered with precision and care, meeting all deadlines and safeguarding the works throughout their journey. Both the Ashmolean Museum and the Hall Art Foundation benefited from a single point of contact who managed every detail, from fabrication and customs to cross-border logistics and secure storage.
Stephanie Biron of the Hall Art Foundation reflected:
“Queen’s was a great partner for our exhibition of Anselm Kiefer: Early Works at the Ashmolean Museum. They engaged with us on a detailed quotation process, were transparent about scheduling and trucking options, and gave us key advice about customs arrangements. We were very happy with their prompt attention to our concerns and the resolutions offered, and we look forward to our next opportunity to work together.”
For institutions of this calibre, the movement of artworks is as much about trust as it is about transport. By combining expertise in logistics, customs, fabrication, and storage under one roof, Queen’s delivered a seamless service that allowed our partners to focus on the exhibition itself, confident their works were in the safest hands.
Image: © Ashmolean Museum, University of Oxford
