Curated by Aaron Moses, NBC administrator of art collections

Often the works we most associate with gallery and museum spaces are large and loud. However, small works are equally capable of carrying significant meaning. Where large paintings can intimidate and force a viewer to step back in order to admire its content, small format works invite viewers to move closer and absorb minute details of a piece.

For many artists, small paintings and sculptures function as studies for larger works. They allow one to experiment with new materials, techniques and designs on a scale that is reasonably priced in terms of both time and the cost of materials. Appealingly, such objects are also perfect for display even in modestly sized spaces. However a small work can easily be a means until itself. Concentrating one’s effort on lavishing such a small area with detail or on the careful planning of miniature compositions can yield truly wondrous results.

Artists featured in this exhibit include Merlin Little Thunder, Harold Holden, Virginia Stroud, Chessney Sevier, Benjamin Harjo Jr. and Brent Learned.

The Altus Times featured this exhibit in a 2018 story.