MASF's 51st International Miniature Art Exhibition Opens at Leepa‑Rattner Museum Jan 18

With the motto "Good Things Come in Small Packages," the Miniature Art Society of Florida presented 550 miniature works at the Leepa-Rattner Museum of Art in Tarpon Springs, opening an awards brunch and public reception on January 18 and running through February 15. The collectors preview took place January 17, and the exhibition brings a wide range of media into tight scale: traditional oils, watercolors, colored pencil pieces, sculptures, and more.

MASF is the second-oldest miniature art organization in the United States, and the society framed the show as part of a Tampa-area revival of the miniature discipline. Julie J. McGowan, MASF president, said, "We are focused on trying to bring back the whole concept of miniature art," and added, "We're not talking small art, but we're talking miniature art, which is a discipline in itself." McGowan emphasized standards of execution: "It's the idea that anytime you paint something that is minimal, you should be able to blow it up to the full size of another painting and have it compared. It's not just scratching little things. It's actually painting fine art in miniature."

The exhibition offers strong practical value for painters and collectors who want to study composition, brush control, and micro detail. Color pencil instructor Melissa Miller Nece highlighted one medium's suitability for the format: "Colored pencils are a great medium for doing miniatures. You have got a tiny little point, and you can get tiny little details," and added, "I think I've been doing miniatures for over 20 years."

Logistics and entry rules are essential reading for artists. The society limits work to a maximum size of five-by-five inches. Framing must reflect fine-art standards with neatly covered backs; frames, glass, and mats will be judged as part of the work. Framed art should not exceed 1 pound in weight due to the limits of the fabric in the display cases. Digital images submitted with entries are used by the judge for jurying and will be posted online. The prospectus requires that all artwork be packaged in a sturdy corrugated shipping box, warns artists not to reuse boxes with old address or barcode labels, and advises against recycling commercial boxes. The prospectus also states that MASF does not provide insurance for loss or damage while works are in transit or in the society's custody and that sending work constitutes agreement to all prospectus conditions.

Awards total more than $8,000 and include Best of Show, Excellence in All Entries, MAA Award of Excellence, Best Work By a First Time Entrant, Best Cat - Domestic or Wild, Aqua Vita Award, Sylvia Trundle Memorial Award, and the Joan Cornish Willies Memorial Award for Best Traditional Oil Miniature. For 2026 the prospectus adds two awards, including a Best International Artist Award selected from accepted artworks.

The Leepa-Rattner Museum of Art is at 600 E Klosterman Rd, Tarpon Springs, FL 34689; for press images or questions about the installation call (727) 712-5762. The calendar for this year's show reflected entry deadlines last year of August 15 through September 26, 2025, with September 26 listed as the final receipt date for artwork, entry forms, and fees.

The exhibition remains on view through February 15, offering a concentrated opportunity to study miniature technique, compare materials and framing choices, and see how contemporary artists meet the exacting five-by-five-inch standard. For painters preparing future entries, follow the prospectus rules closely: pack in sturdy corrugated boxes, avoid reused labeled boxes, keep framed pieces under 1 pound, and prepare clear digital images for jurying.