As Sarasota’s only gallery devoted entirely to exhibiting small works, 502 Gallery opened its one-room space off South Pineapple in the belief that great things can come in the smallest of packages. Its debut show, Shopliftable, is already making a good case. Painting, ceramics, photography, metalwork, fiber art, woodcrafting and collage are all on display and, with more than 40 professional artists showing at once, a quick trip around the room is something akin to viewing a whole cross-section of creative activity in Sarasota. This is by design, say 502 owners Cassia Kite-Jaeger, Tim Jaeger and Dr. Richard Mones, who see in the exhibition of small works a fruitful and yet unexplored niche in the regional arts scene—and one that can bridge an open gap between collectors and artists.

“There’s a place for small works in everybody’s home,” says Kite-Jaeger. And a trip to 502 Gallery isn’t about finding that one giant canvas that dominates the room, but rather wandering through a rotating representation of Sarasota’s weird and eclectic artistic imagination to find the little hidden gems and accent pieces that more subtly enhance a space or collection. Besides, says Kite-Jaeger, most established collectors already have their statement pieces and don’t need more. “And they would still like to invest in the community,” she says, “but don’t have space for bigger works.” At 502 Gallery, they can fill out their collection while finding new artists in the community to support. And for aspiring collectors—or simply art lovers looking for something to put in that little nook by the thing with the weird shelf they never knew what to do with—small works provide accessibility in terms of affordability, as well.

Working small does not constrain or hamper artistic expression either, as evidenced by the outpouring of support 502 Gallery saw from contributing artists, who brought in so much work that Shopliftable will be getting a sequel exhibit in November to show the rest. There’s a common misconception and romanticization that says creation has to be big and dramatic in order to be meaningful. Kite-Jaeger disagrees. Sometimes artistic authenticity is small and quiet, tucked into stolen moments between busy jobs and family demands. “A lot of the best work is made at the kitchen table,” she says, and that includes her own contribution to 502 Gallery’s debut show, an acrylic painting of the creek that runs behind her childhood home in Nebraska. “There are memories there,” she says, and it’s difficult to know if she’s talking about the creek or the painting. Maybe both. “There can be a strong story and a big impact in these smaller pieces,” she continues. “They make you look. They make you pay attention. They pull you in close and you have a direct, intimate relationship.”.