Exporting art: How to ship fragile ceramics or paintings from Ukraine to a New York gallery without going gray

Successful export of artworks (painting, ceramics, sculpture, antiques) requires strict compliance with customs and legal regulations. GlobalPost offers a comprehensive service for Ukrainian artists, collectors, and galleries, ensuring official and safe delivery of valuable shipments to any destination worldwide, including key art centers such as New York. In this article, we will walk you through the step-by-step process of organizing a secure and legal shipment of your artwork abroad.

Main stages of international art shipping

Successful art delivery consists of three critically important stages, each requiring maximum attention.

1. Permission from the Ministry of Culture
The first and most important step is compliance with the law. To avoid issues at customs, you must obtain official confirmation that your artwork is not considered a cultural heritage object of Ukraine.

GlobalPost helps obtain a permit from the Ministry of Culture for exporting artworks abroad. You don’t need to spend time on these formalities.

2. Reliable packaging
For fragile ceramics or paintings transported across the ocean, a standard cardboard box is not enough. Critical packaging requirements include:

• Rigidity: Resistance to stacking (when other shipments are placed on top).
• Cushioning: Reliable protection against vibration and shocks.
• Temperature control: Protection against sudden humidity fluctuations (for paintings).

Our Solution: we manufacture custom packaging — reinforced cardboard boxes, wooden plywood crates, specialized tubes for canvases, or individual constructions. We guarantee that we will take into account the dimensions and degree of fragility so that your masterpiece is delivered undamaged.

For shipments to the United States, we exclusively use materials approved for import and ensure the necessary fumigation of wooden and plywood packaging in accordance with international standards (ISPM-15). This guarantees that your parcel will not be stuck in quarantine at US customs for several weeks, but will immediately proceed to the recipient.

→ Check out our successful case studies of art delivery here.

3. Customs clearance and financial guarantees
After preparing the shipment, it is essential to ensure its financial and legal compliance when crossing borders.

• Insurance. We recommend insuring your shipment for the full value of the artwork. This ensures peace of mind and provides financial protection.
• Document preparation. GlobalPost handles the entire process by preparing the full set of customs documentation, ensuring transparency and legality of delivery.

Customs payment options
You can choose one of two options regarding tax payment:

• Payment by the recipient: The recipient (gallery or buyer) pays taxes and customs duties in the destination country.
• DDP delivery mode: All duties are paid by the sender, ensuring that the American gallery or buyer faces no issues with customs clearance or tax payment upon receipt.

Important: all commercial shipments to the USA undergo customs clearance and may be subject to customs duties. The only exception applies to non-commercial personal gifts between individuals valued under $100, which are exempt from customs payments.

Advantages of GlobalPost for professional art market participants

GlobalPost offers fast delivery of artworks to the USA.

• Confidentiality. We guarantee complete confidentiality regarding shipment details, its value, and the parties involved in the transaction.
• Experience. Over 14 years of experience in international logistics for valuable and complex shipments.
• Turnkey service. We provide door-to-door delivery, fully controlling the logistics chain, including the last mile to the gallery or recipient.
• We handle customs clearance and insurance.

Learn more about shipping options for artists and creators at this link. Calculate the cost in just a few seconds using our online calculator.

Conclusion

GlobalPost is your reliable partner in international transportation of artworks. We combine experience, attention to detail, and complete confidentiality to ensure that every art piece arrives safely, on time, and without unnecessary stress.

Need a consultation? Leave a request on our website, and we will find the perfect solution for your art project. GlobalPost — delivery for your comfort and peace of mind.