Opened in February 2023, The House of Smalls is a little independent art gallery hosting unique shows in the heart of the historic North Cotswolds market town of Chipping Campden. Setting itself apart from more commercial galleries, The House of Smalls is proud to create opportunities and provide a space for local, UK-wide, and international artists to exhibit personal, diverse, and thought-provoking work in themed 3-4 week long exhibitions. Recent shows have explored issues such as menopause, hidden (physical and mental) scars, dependency and addiction, and confinement.

 

"What I love most about THOS shows, and what separates them from others, is that the artists put a part of themselves into their work - it's not mainstream and it's not mass-produced; it's original, it's honest, it's powerful and it's real."

~ Amy Oliver

 

The original idea behind The House of Smalls was conceived 3 years earlier during the 2020 worldwide lockdowns. Frustrated by the formulaic construct of the virtual galleries which had sprung up in the absence of open venues, and high costs to submit and exhibit work, Amy Oliver, The House of Smalls founder and curator, decided to start her own project. Wanting to somehow create affordable opportunities and a place for connection in isolating times for artists like herself, but with a distinct lack of wall space at home, she instead bought a second-hand dollhouse and after renovating it, establishing a social media presence, and building a website, she finally put out a call for art.

 

Across eleven group shows between November 2020 and August 2022, The original House of Smalls exhibited 280+ small artworks by 181 women (200 artists in total) on and within its diminutive walls, and original physical artwork was received from around 30 countries.

 

In its big world format, The House of Smalls mirrors the original project and remains resolute to its ethos of fairness, inclusivity, affordability and accessibility. The Gallery shows large scale solo and themed group exhibitions by predominantly women artists, alongside small-scale work in the dollhouse. As with the original project, artists and their work are featured daily across social media during exhibitions and added to The House of Smalls catalogue of artworks which details every piece exhibited.

 

Amy will be present in the Gallery during opening hours and if you would like to discuss anything please pop in or email info@thehouseofsmalls.art.

 

Much of the artwork exhibited is for sale and if you're interested in discussing or purchasing any of the available pieces please contact me. No commission is applied to sales under £300; and a 10% commission applied on sales above. As with show fees, any money raised through commission goes towards gallery rent, overheads and upkeep.

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