Treasured tiny jewels adorned the walls of Holladay City Hall Feb. 7-15 during the Holladay Arts Council's fourth annual Tiny Art Show. The weeklong open exhibition captivated visitors with the intriguing allure of 237 small-scale art pieces.  

“Tiny Art is our fun show—an open, welcoming space where creativity takes center stage,” Holladay Arts and Culture Manager Megan Attermann said. “We don’t judge the pieces or separate them by skill level; a professional artist’s work might hang right next to a student’s piece of art. While recognizing skill and excellence has its place, it’s just as important to celebrate the creative spirit in all of us.” 

Miniature art tends to draw the viewer in, inviting a person to observe the tiny creations that reveal more detail with extended observation. The hallmark of this art form, whether it be painting, etching, or sculpture, is typically it’s created at a scale of approximately 1/16 of the original size.

Historically, miniature paintings were meticulously created to be held in the palm of one hand, with the understanding if the painting were enlarged many times over, the image would appear complete and cohesive, just as it does when viewed at its small size. This year's Tiny Art exhibition required that all pieces measure no more than 9 inches in either width or length.

For several years, the show has garnered support from the community. This year's show featured 133 artists at every skill level, from aspiring students to accomplished professionals.

 “I love the Tiny Art Show because it offers the chance to own a one-of-a-kind piece of art rather than something mass-produced,” Attermann said. “There’s something deeply special about bringing a handcrafted work, made with care by an artist, into your home. It adds a personal touch, making my space feel like a true reflection of myself and my community.”

According to Attermann, new this year to the Tiny Art Show was a special preview showing of the exhibit and a “Tiny Concert” held in the Big Cottonwood Room auditorium at City Hall. The night was filled with artistic creativity and community connection.

“We kicked off the Tiny Art Show with a special Friday night preview, paired with a ‘Tiny Concert,’” Attermann said. “The evening featured the Nathan Spenser Trio, known as ‘America’s Troubadour,’ in partnership with Excellence in the Community. It was the perfect opportunity to immerse in both visual arts and live music.”

A gallery stroll of the exhibition reveals Charlotte Mortimer’s tiny oil portrait, “Maybe Tomorrow,” which immediately captures the observer's attention and invites a moment of quiet reflection.

“I love to paint children because they are so pure and innocent,” Mortimer said. “They have a story to tell, and their souls can be accessed through their eyes. The little girl in my painting ‘Maybe Tomorrow’ is a daydreamer. She is lost in the thoughts of her imagination.” 

Mortimer enjoys painting miniature art because it’s a tiny collectible that evokes the nostalgia of childhood and the little treasures we all sought to find.

“The child in me likes tiny things,” Mortimer said. “Creating those tiny treasures is fun and satisfies the perfectionist in me as my strokes need to be accurate to portray a likeness. It is a bit of a challenge to paint tiny as I can’t be as free and loose with my paint strokes as I can be in larger pieces. And in larger works, I can tell bigger stories.” 

Tiny art provides the artist with the challenging opportunity of making a powerful visual statement in minimal space. Artists can spend 15 hours or more creating a 2-inch by 4-inch painting. When complete and observed with a magnifying glass, it is evident the tiny painting contains the exact detail of a larger piece.

“I love the Tiny Art Show because it makes me think more creatively,” textile artist Sheryl Gillilan said. “I decided to make two teeny, tiny landscape quilts with outrageous colors. If there were real hills and trees somewhere on Earth that looked like this, I'd move there immediately.”

Attermann suggests this art show makes ownership of a piece of art more attainable for the public. It’s a chance to come as you are, create freely, and freely enjoy art. An added bonus? Eighty percent of all sales go directly to the artists, helping to support their creative work and sustain their art businesses.

Several local master artists participated in this year's Tiny Art Show: Erin Berrett, Jill Buckmiller, Tricia Cook, Brian Cragun, Rebecca Jessee, Yvonne Krause, Sue Martin, Phil McCuistion, James McGee, Ilene Stowe, Charlotte Mortimer and Susan McFarlane, to name a few. 

A tiny piece of art can easily find a perfect spot in the home. Additionally, these original creations by master artists are often budget-friendly making it easier to start an art collection.  

Who knows? A visit to The Tiny Art Show held at Holladay City Hall in February 2026 might just be the perfect place to discover the tiny gem to kick off an art collection. λ