Canberra Gallery Opens Miniature Paintings Marking Art in Miniature’s 25th Anniversary

Dr Susannah Helman, Senior Advisor Curatorial Research at the National Library of Australia, will open the private launch of Miniature Paintings, the Gallery of Small Things’ second show, while the exhibition opens to the public on Thursday 5 March 2026. The gallery’s announcement names Art in Miniature as the presenting collective and confirms the Canberra venue is showing the group’s work to visitors from that date.

The gallery’s March post sets the occasion as a milestone for the artists involved. “Art in Miniature is a special group who are celebrating 25 years of friendship this year over a love of painting miniatures,” the Gallery of Small Things wrote, framing the display as a social as well as artistic celebration. The post also noted the group’s technical commitment, stating it was “impressed by their commitment to the sizes they must work within to be declared miniature.”

Gallery of Small Things positions the show within its growing program; the March announcement calls Miniature Paintings the venue’s “2nd show” and uses enthusiastic language about the event. An Instagram snippet for the exhibition described the project as one that “will transform Australia's tiniest gallery,” and the gallery’s messaging situates the display in the Visitor Centre Gallery in Canberra.

The Autumn news copy links the current opening to recent activity at the small venue and to other Canberra arts events. The post recounts that “Dr Sarah Rice, recently opened our 1st show of the year for Kiata Mason and Hamish Bassett. She wrote a thoughtful and insightful speech which resonated with our guests that evening. Now, time for her to shine! She has a new publication, Alight on all things precious, which is being launched at Canberra Museum and Gallery (CMAG) on Saturday 14 March. Sarah tells us a little more, ‘It’s a collection of poetry I’ve written in response to visual art (both my own and others’) - including many ceramicists and craftspeople! And local Canberra artists too. Visit here for more info.’”

In its promotional copy the gallery asked for public feedback to widen visibility for the venue and for Canberra arts tourism. “We welcome reviews to help visitors locally, interstate and overseas to visit us as one of many gems in Canberra. Your positive feedback also helps us (and many tourist operators) when being assessed for arts / tourism opportunities. You can choose Tripadvisor, Facebook or Google,” the gallery wrote, followed in the post by the run-together prompt: “Review us on Tripadvisoror Review us on Facebookor Review us on GMB.”

The gallery’s Autumn news entry also included digital assets listed by filename, naming images such as 20221110-CRTA-Badges-Awards 2022-05.jpg, 20220130-CRTA-Badges 11.jpg and 20220130-CRTA-Badges 2.jpg. With the show on public display from 5 March 2026, the Gallery of Small Things has placed Art in Miniature’s quarter-century of collaborative friendship at the centre of its March program, anchored by a private opening led by Dr Susannah Helman and linked to other Canberra cultural activity in mid-March.