A little love note to miniature art galleries

Here is a compilation of past and present tiny art gallery projects that inspire me

Like many of you, I love tiny things. They are cute. They encourage me to believe in miniature other-worlds. They can be easily possessed and arranged. When I started tiny art show officially in 2018, I began to research other art projects that engage with the miniature. I was inspired by talented artists like Lorraine Loots, Aleia (the snail queen), Anonymouse, Tatsuya Tanaka, Slinkachu, and Dina Brodsky.

But finding projects that focus specifically on miniature art galleries was trickier. I searched dilligently- on instagram, on art websites, on pinterest, in art books. My discoveries were few and far between. But each time I did discover a tiny art gallery project, I was so elated. The more detailed, the more intricate, the better. Now it’s been 7 years and I am still adding to my list. And I will keep adding because I see new projects popping up that are amazingly well done.

I thought it would be fun to compile a list of some of my favorite tiny art gallery projects, from the past and from the present. This is definitely not comprehensive, and I’d love any new leads. Thanks for reading!

1. Handwritten Letter & Pop Up Gallery by Alfred Joseph Frueh

   

   In 1913, caricaturist Alfred Frueh sent his fiancee Giuliette Fanciulli her own art gallery, so that she could train for the "GALLERY MARATHON" she would experience when she arrived in Paris. It came complete with original works of art and a coat check.

2. Locker 50b Gallery at VCU by Virginia Samsel

Started in 2002, Virginia Samsel created a tiny gallery in her locker at VCU and continued to host different exhibitions inside for over seven years

2. “Put Your Head Into Gallery” by Tezi Gabunia

In 2015 Gabunia created miniature models of four famous art galleries just large enough for people to stick their heads into.

3. Arsham Fieg Gallery by Daniel Arsham and Ronnie Fieg

Started by KITH founder Ronnie Fieg and artist Daniel Arsham in 2017 and located inside KITH.

4. “The Youseum” by Slinkachu

Slinkachu created this piece for Museum Night 2016 at The Museum of Fine Arts in Gent (MSK), this work is now in the Museum's collection.

5. Creal Microgallery

Created in 2021 by Joe Levickas, this public exhibition space is located on Creal Crescent in Ann Arbor, Michigan. The microgallery exhibits new contemporary shows regularly.

6. Free Little Art Gallery Puerto Rico

Free Little Art Galleries began popping up all over starting around 2020. There are so many great ones and one of my favorites is Free Little Art Gallery Puero Rico.

7. The Helper Mini

   

   Created in 2024 by artist Kevin K. Perry, this public gallery in Helper Utah hosts new exhibitions regularly by some of Utah’s best artists. Barely Fair

8. Barely Fair

BARELY FAIR is an international art fair operated by Julius Caesar. The invitational fair presents a tiny peek inside the programming of thirty contemporary art galleries, project spaces, and curatorial projects during “Art Week” in Chicago.