Free Little Art Gallery is a grassroots art movement that has often been attributed to Seattle-based artist Stacy Milrany when she started one herself in 2020. These tiny galleries are often newspaper boxes placed in front of someone’s home, at public libraries, schools, or the neighbourhood street corner. They operate by following the concept of a grassroots literary movement called Free Little Library; people leave books for others to take at these dedicated spots.
Since June 2024, artist and writer Tyler Tork has charted 574 distinct Free Little Art Galleries worldwide. Tork has immortalized the evidence of the movement's resounding success in an open-source Free Little Art Gallery map. In today’s world, where art galleries and art institutions are often criticized for being intimidating and elitist, the Free Little Gallery movement helps make art accessible for everyone without exception.
Whether you are a professional or an amateur, everyone is welcome to exhibit their art in these spaces. On the other hand, everyone is welcome to admire these pieces and even take them home at no cost. This is why the Free Little Art Gallery movement is aligned with the United Nations Sustainable Development Goal of Reduced Inequalities.
A wide variety of artworks appear in a Free Little Art Gallery. These are anything from children’s artworks, emerging artists' works, established artists' works, collectives' work, local craftsmen’s work, jewelry and much more. Different Free Little Art Galleries often have dedicated social media accounts to track better the artworks they display. For example, Free Little Art Gallery Oakland runs a dedicated Instagram account where they share more about the exhibiting artists, allowing them to host tiny exhibitions such as Southwest Scapes by local emerging film photographer Allie.
The Free Little Art Gallery movement, initiated by Stacy Milrany in 2020, democratizes art by making it accessible to everyone. Inspired by the Free Little Library concept, these small, often outdoor galleries allow individuals to share, exhibit and collect art for free. With over 574 galleries worldwide, the movement breaks down the barriers of traditional galleries, fostering creativity for both professional and amateur artists. By providing an open platform, Free Little Art Galleries makes art a shared experience for all.
Find out more about Free Little Art Galleries on the website initiated by Tyler Tork www.freelittleartgalleries.art or the Instagram of some of their chapters: @freelittleartgalleryoakland (Oakland), @freelittleartgallerywinnipeg (Winnipeg) and @freelittleartgallerypetworthdc (Petworth - Washington DC).