Ceiling blackout at Barbican Art Gallery

Project Challenges and Solutions

Fast exhibition turnaround
The gallery had a limited four-day window for the initial blackout phase and another four-day window for the later restoration. Airless spray application allowed the team to cover the ceiling areas quickly and evenly, with drying times managed around the exhibition schedule.

Detailed protection
The rooms included many ceiling coves, fittings and adjacent finished surfaces. Before spraying began, fixtures, walls and floors were fully masked and sheeted so the finish could be applied cleanly without overspray or damage.

Coordination on a live site
The Barbican project involved several trades working alongside one another. The spraying team coordinated with the venue and other contractors to keep access routes safe, maintain progress and reduce disruption to the wider installation programme.

Environmental requirements
The venue required coatings with low environmental impact. Low-VOC Little Greene paint was selected so the work could meet sustainability expectations while still providing a strong, consistent finish.

Process

Preparation began with masking, protection and air-quality controls. Once the areas were secure, the ceilings were sprayed black in controlled coats to reduce light reflection and create the darker environment needed for film projection. The finish was checked for consistency across the coves and ceiling details.

When the exhibition finished, the team returned to reverse the treatment. The black finish was covered with white coatings to restore the gallery back to its original appearance, followed by a final quality check to make sure no trace of the temporary blackout remained.

Results

The completed blackout created the immersive visual environment required for the exhibition. After the show, the ceilings were returned to a clean white finish ready for the next installation. Both phases were delivered inside the four-day windows, using low-VOC materials and careful protection throughout.