The vibrant community of Queen Village gathered at At My House a charming vintage shop, for the grand opening of the Mini Mini Art Show on a lively Friday night. This enchanting exhibition, featuring artworks smaller than 1.5 inches by 1.5 inches will continue to delight visitors until August 2.
The event drew a diverse crowd, eager to explore the intricate details of miniature paintings, sculptures, and textiles. The shop’s regular stock of vintage items, including records and thrifted clothing, added to the eclectic atmosphere. Attendees also enjoyed miniature cocktails, enhancing the whimsical experience.
The Allure of Miniature Art
Kelly Braun the owner and curator of At My House, has a keen eye for what captivates people. She notes that there’s something inherently precious about everyday objects shrunk down to tiny proportions. “There’s something just so precious about something that is a normal, everyday thing that is shrunken down,” Braun said. “It’s a whimsical thing. I feel like there’s so much less whimsical things for us to enjoy lately, and miniature things just are automatically packed full of whimsy.”
This isn’t the first time At My House has hosted a mini art show. Last year, the store celebrated the addition of a vending machine selling $0.50 mini prints depicting Philly landmarks and landscapes. These prints, created by Braun’s friend and neighbor Fabiola Lara are the smallest in Lara’s collection, which includes 13 mini print vending machines around the city.
Inspired by the success of last year’s show and a one-inch-square piece created by friend and artist Mitch Weisen Braun decided to push the boundaries even further. “We were like, oh my god, three inches is huge. It’s way too big. So this year we wanted to cut it in half,” she explained.
A Community United by Tiny Masterpieces
The call for art was met with enthusiasm by Philly’s creative community. The show features 30 pieces crafted by artists Braun invited and others who answered an open call. Despite initial concerns about the challenge of working on such a small scale, the artists rose to the occasion.
“We were worried it might be too small, people maybe would have trouble with it, but they did not have trouble at all,” Braun said. “Everyone said they loved the challenge.”
The exhibition includes a diverse collection of artworks, from abstract pieces to Philly-focused creations like Branche Coverdale’s “En Route” a depiction of a SEPTA bus made of tiny wood blocks. Lara’s contributions, miniature reproductions of “Girl with a Pearl Earring” by Johannes Vermeer and “The Birth of Venus” by Sandro Botticelli draw attention for their charm and novelty.
Zarria Stephens a collector of Lara’s mini prints, traveled from West Philly to attend the show. “In each of them, it captures some essence of Philly in some sense, like a reimagination of a certain Philly monument or thing, which is cute. And the fact it’s so small, I think it just adds a little wow factor,” Stephens said.
The show has also brought new visitors to At My House. Nick Rozas who came from Center City to support his friend Amy Schwartz whose artwork is included in the show, appreciated the thrift shop location. “It’s mutually beneficial. It helps not only the business but some of these, maybe, potentially lesser known artists in the city,” Rozas said.
Braun loves how the show unites the community, creating a fun space for people to enjoy artwork. “I love that something so silly and fun can bring so many people together,” she said. “It’s so wholesome and heartwarming.”
