Museums tell stories with artifacts and artwork, but the visual experience begins before a single exhibit is viewed. It starts with printed museum signage. With big, bold entryway graphics. With visual wayfinding, colorful wall murals, vibrant floor decals, and attractive interpretive displays. For many of Los Angeles’s most respected museums, those large format visuals are designed, printed, and installed by CR&A Custom.
From the high-profile *Paul McCartney: Rearview Mirror photographic retrospective at the Gagosian to the emotionally powerful Don’t Fence Me In exhibit at the Japanese American National Museum, CR&A Custom has quietly helped frame unforgettable museum experiences through precision-crafted graphic print production.
Here’s how CR&A Custom supports some of LA’s top museums and exhibitions through large format graphics that combine artistry, accuracy, and impact.
Paul McCartney: Rearview Mirror – Gagosian, Beverly Hills
The Rearview Mirror exhibition offered visitors a rare, intimate look into the 1963–64 period of Beatlemania through the lens of Paul McCartney’s personal camera. As the Gagosian prepared to showcase over 250 photos, they relied on CR&A Custom for production of the exhibit’s large-scale environmental graphics.
This included dimensional entrance signage, wall-sized photographic reproductions, and vinyl gallery panels that guided visitors through a timeline of the Beatles’ early rise. Each graphic was printed with photographic fidelity using archival-quality substrates and latex ink technology to match McCartney’s original tones and mood.
CR&A Custom also managed precise installation in the sleek, minimal gallery space—ensuring each visual element enhanced the art without overpowering it.
Mission 26: The Big Endeavour – California Science Center
When the California Science Center wanted to showcase the Shuttle Endeavor’s Mission 26, they wanted to document not only the shuttle’s final journey but also its legacy in space exploration. They contacted CR&A Custom.
CR&A Custom produced a wide range of graphics for the exhibit: oversized graphics that traced the shuttle’s mission, and bold interpretive panels that displayed mission facts and engineering marvels. Installation inside the Science Center required precise coordination, especially around the shuttle itself. CR&A Custom’s experienced team ensured all materials met fire codes and safety specs for a public science environment.
The result was a highly visual, immersive educational experience that brought space history closer to Earth.
Don’t Fence Me In: Coming of Age in America’s Concentration Camps – Japanese American National Museum
This exhibit explores the lives of Japanese American youth who came of age while imprisoned during World War II. Emotionally rich and historically vital, Don’t Fence Me In demanded a sensitive and respectful design approach—something CR&A Custom delivered with care.
Working in partnership with JANM’s curatorial and exhibition teams, CR&A Custom produced large-scale reproductions of archival photos, full-wall murals, and layered panels that mixed text, imagery, and oral history quotes. The team also fabricated freestanding panels for artifact display and produced directional signage to guide visitors through the layered narrative.
The design and execution helped amplify the exhibit’s message—while keeping the focus on the voices of the youth who lived through that dark chapter of U.S. history.
Taul & Sachiko Watanabe Gallery Exhibitions – Japanese American National Museum
The Watanabe Gallery has housed several temporary and rotating exhibitions celebrating Japanese American culture and resilience. CR&A Custom has supported multiple installations here with wall graphics, window treatments, and bilingual signage.
Each exhibition has unique visual needs—from minimalist photo presentations to more vibrant, youth-focused storytelling—and CR&A Custom adapts accordingly. Their team’s fluency in cultural context and gallery requirements makes them a trusted extension of the museum’s vision.
Andrew Wyeth: In Retrospect – Museum of Agrarian Art
Although based in Pennsylvania, the Andrew Wyeth: In Retrospect exhibition toured to several institutions, including a Southern California showing hosted in part by the Museum of Agrarian Art. CR&A Custom contributed wall text graphics, artist quote panels, and oversized reproductions that complemented Wyeth’s muted, emotionally evocative palette.
Working with curators and lighting designers, CR&A Custom ensured that printed wall graphicsdid not reflect or distract from Wyeth’s original paintings and drawings. The team also assisted with temporary graphic mounting that preserved the integrity of historic museum walls.
Supporting the Museum of Agrarian Art
In its ongoing relationship with the Museum of Agrarian Art, CR&A Custom helps produce event signage, donor recognition displays, and permanent wall graphics that support the museum’s mission of celebrating the rural landscape in American art. From exhibit title walls to environmental storytelling, CR&A Custom’s work helps frame every piece with clarity and purpose.
Why Museums Choose CR&A Custom
Museums demand more than just printing—they require precision, consistency, and sensitivity. CR&A Custom delivers all three.
Museum-grade quality: CR&A Custom uses color-calibrated, high-resolution printing equipment to ensure accurate reproductions and consistent tones.
Material expertise: From low-VOC adhesives to archival substrates and non-reflective laminates, CR&A Custom recommends the right materials for delicate or high-traffic spaces.
Turnkey service: CR&A handles the full project—design assistance, fabrication, installation, and removal—reducing the burden on museum staff.
Code-compliant production: Their team understands accessibility standards, fire codes, and public safety requirements for temporary exhibitions and permanent displays.
Whether it’s a blockbuster international exhibit or a community-rooted installation, CR&A Custom supports Los Angeles museums with the visuals that bring stories to life.
From Beatles nostalgia to space science, from agrarian landscapes to civil rights history—these are the exhibits that shape public understanding. CR&A Custom helps make them visible.
Written by: Carmen Rad
