Making Little Worlds

Picking up a tiny pink plastic shopping bag, as small as a fingernail, Billie Culy smiles. It’s evident that her tiny creations – a two centimetre-high dog, minuscule painted landscapes, thimble-sized vases – all bring her immense joy. “I want people to feel they’re in another room or space for a moment,” the Hawke’s Bay based artist shares, speaking about her latest body of work, which boasts a delightful array of dioramas.

Billie’s recent exhibition, , showed at Wellington gallery Kaukau and then at her Napier studio. But it was a nerve-wracking experience for the 27-year-old artist, as this body of work is brand-new territory. Throughout her twenties, she’s become known for immaculate photographs of floral arrangements. She