SPRINGFIELD, Ill. (WAND) — What started as a spark of inspiration has turned into a must-see attraction in one Springfield neighborhood.
It's a tiny art gallery drawing big attention.
Gallery 1624, tucked into the front yard of a home in Springfield's historic Hawthorne Place neighborhood, is exactly what it sounds like: a fully curated art gallery, just on a much smaller scale.
Curator Seth! Leary said the idea came to him while scrolling through Instagram last summer.
"I saw that in the Andersonville neighborhood of Chicago was a tiny gallery on a post in this artist's front yard … and I thought, 'Oh my gosh, this is so cool,'" Leary said.
Inspired, Leary wasted no time bringing the concept to central Illinois.
"I went to the hardware store, and I just started buying materials … and by October I was ready to put it on a post in my front yard."
The gallery, named after his home address, is designed to resemble the house itself. It is complete with a miniature front door, benches and even solar-powered lighting so visitors can stop by after dark.
At first, the gallery attracted curious neighbors and dog walkers. But thanks to growing buzz on TikTok and Instagram, it's now become a destination.
"Now literally every day, seven days a week, I have people pull up just to see the gallery," Leary said. "It's not just passersby anymore … it's a destination."
Social media has played a major role in its popularity. Videos and posts showcasing the tiny gallery and the intricate artwork inside have helped spread the word far beyond Springfield.
Inside the gallery, exhibits rotate regularly, featuring both local and international artists. Leary said the first show featured his own work, followed by a collection of prints from his father.
More recently, the gallery has showcased miniature oil paintings from an artist in Quebec and nature-inspired photography from Oregon.
"I really want to showcase more Springfield and central Illinois artists," Leary said.
While small in size, the gallery is making a big impact. Leary shared with WAND News that it's not just an attraction, but also a source of positivity.
"There's just a lot of stuff in the world … that's really negative," Leary said. "So to be able to put just some good vibes and good energy into the world … that kind of made my day."
Leary hopes the gallery also inspires others to explore their own creativity.
"I would like to think that seeing art, even on a small scale, is doable," he said. "Maybe people go home, and they're like, 'I'm gonna draw a little thing.'"
As far as he knows, Gallery 1624 is the only tiny gallery of its kind in downstate Illinois and one of the few that operates as a fully curated exhibit.
Looking ahead, Leary said he doesn't have a formal expansion plan, but he hopes the idea continues to inspire others.
"I don't plan to make more of these," he said. "But I can tell … people are inspired … and I say, go for it."
People can visit Gallery 1624 during daylight hours. There are also solar lights that Leary said usually turn off around 9 p.m. He also added that there is a Ring camera watching the gallery and a QR code for people to scan.
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