The Richard MacDonald Gallery, Las Vegas, Presented by Cirque du Soleil
Where performance meets presentation
The Richard MacDonald Gallery is a destination inside Bellagio Las Vegas-presented by Cirque du Soleil and adjacent to the “O” Theatre-where sculpture and drawing celebrate the human body in movement. The gallery welcomes waves of visitors before and after the award-winning aquatic production each day, and it remains open for daytime viewing on the resort’s promenade.
We were thrilled to learn that an AS Hanging Display Systems solution helps the artwork take center stage here. The design team needed a way to change exhibits often without ever damaging the walls, and to do it in a way that remains almost invisible to guests. Their answer: our Classic Wall Track paired with rigid hanging rods and gallery-grade hooks.
The challenge: world-class art + delicate walls
The gallery’s finishes include mirror smooth Venetian plaster. It’s exquisite, and unforgiving. Drive a nail and you’ve likely created a blemish that can’t be repaired to a factory finish.
That made a flexible, non-destructive hanging approach mandatory. Rather than surface mount the rail, the team embedded the track into the wall structure so it reads as an architectural detail and practically disappears. The rods then run very close to the wall plane so the display hardware visually recedes and the artwork commands full attention.
Products in use: Classic Wall Track, P-End Rods and Secure Gallery Classic Hooks.
You can explore the same components here:
- Classic Wall Track (closed-face aluminum rail designed for cables or rods).
- Rods (rigid, vertical hangers that don’t twist under load and keep frames perfectly aligned).
- Rod hooks for secure, fine height adjustment on framed works.
Products Used: Classic Wall Track, P-End Rod, Secure Gallery Classic Hook
Why rods instead of cables?
For galleries and museums-especially with large or heavy frames-rods offer a few practical advantages:
- 1. Zero cable memory or twist. Steel cable wants to “remember” its coil, rods stay arrow-straight for a crisp, architectural look that suits formal galleries and long, rectilinear frames (as seen in the MacDonald drawings).
- 2. Tighter wall profile. In the Bellagio installation the track is embedded nearly flush; rods run close to the surface so the hanging line disappears into the architecture.
- 3. Fast, repeatable changes. Hooks slide on the rod and lock at the new height-ideal when exhibitions rotate regularly.
Pro tip: If you’re designing new construction or a significant renovation and love this sight-line-clean look, plan the track early so it can be recessed or integrated into trim. Our Classic Wall Track is frequently detailed to sit behind millwork or a shallow reveal for near invisibility.
Case study highlights from the gallery
For galleries and museums-especially with large or heavy frames-rods offer a few practical advantages:
- Hidden infrastructure visible art.
The track sits just under the crown moulding. Guests see sculpture and drawings-not hardware. - Color coordination.
The gallery used champagne-anodized hardware to harmonize with warm earth tones (today we offer modern finishes to complement a range of palettes). - No wall damage, ever.
Exhibitions change frequently; the hanging grid stays, the art rotates. Plaster stays pristine.
How to recreate this look in your space
1) Pick your rail and placement
Classic Wall Track is a discreet, open face profile that mounts level across the room. Plan the rail just under the crown moulding, or embed it into a shallow recess if the project allows.
Surface-mount retrofits in homes, offices and galleries also look clean when the rail matches the wall color.
2) Choose rods for straight, museum-grade lines
Rods are ideal for framed drawings, photography and heavier works where a super-tidy vertical line is part of the aesthetic.
They also make it easier to align a series at the exact same standoff from the wall-great for corridors and long walls.
3) Match the hook to the job
Use Secure Gallery Classic Hooks when you need friction-proof grip and easy fine-tuning.
They’re engineered for rods and lock tight so the piece stays exactly where you set it-no sagging over time.
4) Protect specialty wall finishes
If you’re dealing with Venetian plaster, limewash, silk wallcovering or custom panels, a track-and-rod system gives you years of reusability with no new holes.
That’s precisely why the MacDonald team adopted the approach.
5) Plan for rotation
Because the hardware lives permanently at the top of the wall, you can refresh the gallery with seasonal curation.
Add exhibition labels, or vary the hanging heights for performance-inspired compositions-without calling the contractor each time.
FAQs
(from shoppers, curators and DIYers)
- Will visitors notice the hardware?
Not if you detail it like the gallery. A recessed or trim-integrated rail puts the visual focus on the art. Even surface-mounted tracks are slim and can be painted to blend into the wall. - Rod or cable-how do I decide?
Choose rods for straight lines, large/heavy frames, and a formal presentation. Choose cables for lighter, mixed media displays or when you want the hanging line to nearly vanish at a distance. We offer both options from the same rail, so you can mix as needed. - Can I lock frames so they can’t be “bumped” crooked?
Yes. Pair rods with secure hooks for a non-twist presentation, add frame leveling aids when needed for super wide pieces. Our rod hooks are designed specifically to resist creep and keep frames plumb. - What if I want a completely hidden, construction-grade look?
If you’re building new or renovating, ask your contractor to recess the rail into millwork or a small reveal. Designers frequently do this in galleries and corporate spaces. It’s the same principle used in the Bellagio installation.
About Richard MacDonald
Richard MacDonald’s work is synonymous with balance, poise and explosive energy qualities that mirror the world of Cirque du Soleil, whose performers have long inspired his sculptures and drawings.
Presenting that work with equal respect means a display system that disappears so each gesture, muscle and line can speak.
The Bellagio installation proves that a thoughtful hanging strategy is as much a part of curation as lighting and framing.
Watch Beauty of the human body, Richard MacDonald, on YouTube
Ready to design your own gallery wall?
Whether you’re outfitting a professional space, a museum style hallway at home, or a high-traffic lobby, starting with a rail lets you change, shift, and refine without harming your surfaces. Recreate the MacDonald Gallery’s refined look with:
Classic Wall Track: discreet, reliable and future-proof.
Rods: for perfectly straight, twist-free presentation.
Rod Hooks: for secure, precise height adjustments.
Do you have questions about engineering, finishes or layout?
Our specialists are happy to help: please contact our Customer Support at [email protected], or give us a call at 866 935-6949 (toll free) or at our local number 450 619-7999.
When you hang with AS Hanging Display Systems, you Hang with the Best®
Explore our Picture Hanging Systems built of tracks, cables and hooks.
We offer picture hanging hardware for your residential, commercial and institutional projects.
