Smalls Gallery is about a genuine love for art and bringing people together. I have been to many art shows, music showcases and felt very inspired. Due to the ways it has made people feel about the art even if it wasn’t my personal taste. I cannot deny its impact. We don’t represent artists specifically rather having a focus on building community and putting on shows. The art world is very inaccessible if you do not have ties to it from your parents or if you are working class person interested in art or a working class artist.

I wanted to create a gallery to combat that. Go back to the essence of what made me love art…which is the art itself. The curated shows that allowed me to wonder!

This was created out of my need to be apart but in true Leo fashion I want do what I want! So I wanted to create a mould that was about the work & people who create and enjoy the work! This model is antagonistic to what I’ve always seen the art industry represent. It’s about stripping everything back.

‘Homegrown’ is an exploration of place and personhood, how they influence each other within visual artistry. It’s about challenging the idea that one must belong to one home. Acknowledging the different things that influence our personhood , that these things are not barriers but openers to a different understanding of self - and then art. This exhibition includes; Kendrafilmz, Toni Micheal, Manu Nzinga, Adeze Akabogu and Medua Uwechue.

Social media handles

@smallsgallery_ and @elishasmalls_