Tiny Showcase Celebrates Small Art - Inside Art with Michael Rose

Tiny Showcase Celebrates Small Art - Inside Art with Michael Rose

 

Small works of art can often be an affordable and accessible entryway for new collectors to discover artists and begin to support their work. Tiny Showcase, a pioneering web-based business founded in 2004, has been promoting small-scale artworks since its inception. Through November 26, Tiny Showcase is partnering with World’s Fair Gallery in Providence to show off a fine collection of prints in varying media that celebrate small-format art. This is the first-ever in-person exhibition of artworks offered through Tiny Showcase, which until now has focused exclusively on online sales. With pieces by more than 60 artists in a range of media and styles, there is something for everyone in this packed exhibition.

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An early establishment in the world of online art sales, Tiny Showcase has been premiering limited editions of small prints for nearly two decades. Based in Rhode Island, Tiny Showcase is an unusual visual art retailer in that it solely focuses on small works and premieres new print editions regularly to support artists and worthy causes. It is a unique model, and one that defies many of the staid and rigid practices of traditional art-collecting venues. In 2020, Tiny Showcase took on new management when it was acquired by Julia Gualtieri, an artist and educator. Gualtieri is a multi-talented art professional whose passion for making art more accessible comes to life in her work running Tiny Showcase.

 

 

When asked to describe the mission of Tiny Showcase, Gualtieri says, “Tiny Showcase was created in 2004 as a way to make collecting art affordable and accessible. Every Tuesday, we release a limited edition of phenomenal art and donate a portion of the proceeds to a nonprofit organization near and dear to the artist’s heart. In a big art world, we remain a quiet island to encounter beautiful, affordable work in small quantities, carefully chosen.”

The partnership which has brought the work of Tiny Showcase’s online platform to a physical gallery is also worth noting. World’s Fair Gallery, which is playing host to the exhibition, is a small but mighty exhibition space tucked into the facade of the historic Columbus Theatre on Federal Hill. Regularly hosting compelling shows, World’s Fair Gallery is an excellent venue for a celebration of smaller artworks. Both World’s Fair Gallery and Tiny Showcase are local businesses doing the important groundwork to bring art to market and provide artists with access to potential art buyers.

 

 

Of Tiny Showcase’s unique role in promoting art collecting, Gualtieri says, “By spotlighting a different artist and artwork each week, the hope is to connect folks with artists they might not be familiar with and discover new work. Financial accessibility is also a really important aspect, you can own an artwork and support a hardworking artist without breaking the bank.”

The issue of affordability is on display in the group’s current exhibition at World’s Fair Gallery. Many of the items available in the show, which fills the walls of the small storefront, are priced at $50 or less. This means that collectors of a range of economic backgrounds can explore and support the work of artists that pique their interest. With artworks from across Tiny Showcase’s archive, viewers can also glimpse the significant and diverse collection that the group has organized over the last few years. The exhibition is exciting both conceptually and visually.

When asked what she hopes viewers take away from Tiny Showcase’s exhibition at World’s Fair Gallery, Gualtieri states, “A little bolt of energy, joy, and color. There are such disparate works in this show, it's fun to see how they all interact with each other.”

 

 

Without a doubt, there is much to see in the exhibition. Spread over the bright walls of the sunlit World’s Fair Gallery, some pieces hang from binder slips while others sit side by side on shelves. When visiting, one might linger on one image or build connections between several. In the show, color and form are juxtaposed with varying means of making images. Bold illustrations are paired with images that speak in quieter tones making for an exhibition of striking and delightful variety.

Though the works on view were created by many distinct voices, the assembled artwork shows off the immense possibilities of little art and creates excitement for looking at art collecting in new and unconventional ways.

Tiny Showcase will be on view in World’s Fair Gallery at 268 Broadway through November 26. Visitors are welcome to schedule a private viewing of the exhibition with the gallery HERE.

 

To learn more about Tiny Showcase, visit www.tinyshowcase.com.