Art lovers are being invited to look closely this January as dozens of tiny works take over the shelves of the South Central Regional Library’s Miami branch.
The library has officially opened its Miniature Art Exhibition, launching a month-long showcase of small-scale art created by artists of all ages and experience levels.
The show is the result of a collaboration between the library and the Miami Arts Association, blending two community hubs that share a common goal: welcoming people through the doors and encouraging creativity.
“We had an open call for artists to submit a miniature piece of artwork,” explained Raina Teigrob, branch administrator. “The only real requirement was size … a maximum of 10 centimeters by 10 centimeters. Beyond that it could be 2D, 3D, any medium at all.”
The response, she said, was enthusiastic and wide-ranging, with submissions arriving from local residents, artists from surrounding communities, and a notable number of teenagers.
“That part was especially exciting,” Teigrob said. “Teens don’t always come into the library on their own, so seeing so many of them participate really shows how art can bring in new faces.”
For Wendy Pearson, a board member with the Miami Arts Association and one of the exhibiting artists, the idea grew from a love of tiny things—and a spark of inspiration from afar.
“A friend of mine had done a miniature show at a library near Boston,” she said. “I sent it to Raina and said, ‘This would be really cool … we should do this.’ She was keen right away, and it just kind of took off.”
Pearson said the miniature format makes art feel more approachable, especially for people who may not see themselves as artists.
“Sometimes it can be intimidating to walk into an arts association and feel like you have to be Van Gogh,” she said. “A library feels safe. It feels comfortable. It’s a great place for someone to show their work for the first time.”
Pearson contributed a soft pastel piece titled Whisperings, measuring just over an inch tall. Working at such a small scale, she said, is less restrictive than it sounds.
“It actually frees you up. You’re not trying to fill up a huge canvas. You’re just having fun and letting your imagination go where it wants.”
Whisperings layers soft pastel pigments over textured paper, using colour and mark-making to draw the viewer’s eye down a narrow path and into the distance.
“I wanted it to feel like something was calling you in … like a whisper from farther back,” Pearson said. “A slower time. A summer evening. Just following that sense of quiet magic.”
Both organizers say the exhibition highlights the depth of artistic talent in the area—talent that often goes unnoticed.
“We’ve had other exhibits since moving into our new building, and people are always surprised,” Pearson said. “They’ll say, ‘I had no idea we had artists like this here.’ This is another way to show that we do.”
Teigrob hopes the show also reinforces the evolving role of libraries.
“We’re more than just books,” she said. “Books are important, but libraries are community hubs. We partner with amazing people and offer space for connection, creativity, and learning.”
She added that simply visiting the library helps support it.
“Even just walking in the door matters. Come say hello. Check it out. Libraries aren’t what people think they are … they’re not quiet, stuffy places anymore. They’re for everyone.”
Pearson echoed that sentiment, calling libraries essential spaces in an increasingly digital world.
“Sometimes it’s nice to come someplace quiet—or quiet-ish—and let your brain relax,” she said. “To read, to look at art, to just be.”
The Miniature Art Exhibition is on display during regular library hours through Jan. 31.
