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Client

Naples Art Institute

Project

"Miradas de Mujeres — Isabelle de Borchgrave

Place

Brussels (Belgium) → Naples, Florida (USA)

Contact

Frank Verpoorten — Executive Director & Chief Curator

Case Study

"Miradas de Mujeres — Isabelle de Borchgrave

Context

In February 2023, the Naples Art Institute in Florida organised the exhibition “Women’s Gazes” dedicated to the internationally renowned Belgian artist Isabelle de Borchgrave. The exhibition brought together 164 artworks originating from the Royal Museums of Fine Arts of Belgium in Brussels and loaned by the Fondation Isabelle de Borchgrave. Due to the scale of the exhibition and the fragile nature of the works, the Naples Art Institute appointed Embelco to manage the complete logistics, packing, international shipping and installation process from Belgium to the United States. The project required museum-level precision, rapid execution and seamless coordination between Belgium and the US within an extremely condensed timeframe.
One of the key challenges of this project was the volume and diversity of the artworks involved. A total of 164 pieces had to be measured, condition-checked, dismantled, packed and prepared for international air freight within a very limited period. The works of Isabelle de Borchgrave are known for their delicacy and complexity. Many pieces required highly specific protection solutions adapted to lightweight materials, sensitive structures and irregular dimensions. Another major constraint was the timeline. The complete dismantling, packing and crate loading operation inside the museum had to be completed within 48 hours without compromising handling quality or conservation standards. On top of the logistical execution, Embelco also had to coordinate:
  • international air freight from Belgium to Florida,
  • US customs clearance,
  • ATA carnet formalities,
  • last-mile delivery,
  • and final installation at the Naples Art Institute.
The project required continuous communication between the museum teams, the Fondation Isabelle de Borchgrave, international freight partners and US-based installation teams.

Embelco's intervention

Embelco handled the complete logistical operation from Brussels to Naples, Florida. Our teams first carried out detailed in situ measurements and condition checks for all 164 artworks at the Royal Museums of Fine Arts of Belgium. Based on these measurements, we designed and produced 164 custom protective cardboard inlays and transport crates within only two weeks. The dismantling and packing operations were then executed directly inside the museum. Thanks to detailed preparation and coordination, the complete packing and crate loading process was finalised within two days. Once packed, the artworks were transported via international air freight from Belgium to the United States. Embelco coordinated the entire shipping chain, including:
  • airport handling,
  • export documentation,
  • US customs procedures,
  • secure delivery to the Naples Art Institute.
Upon arrival in Florida, our teams coordinated the unpacking and installation process in collaboration with the exhibition curators and the Fondation Isabelle de Borchgrave to ensure that every artwork was presented according to museum standards.

Result

The exhibition was successfully delivered and installed on schedule at the Naples Art Institute without incident. All 164 artworks were transported internationally, installed and presented under optimal conservation conditions while respecting the tight project deadlines. The project demonstrated Embelco’s expertise in:
  • museum exhibition logistics,
  • international art shipping between Europe and the United States,
  • bespoke packaging production,
  • high-volume art handling operations under time constraints.
The success of the operation also highlighted Embelco’s ability to combine technical precision, responsiveness and international coordination for complex museum projects.

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