Florence, Italy — February 13, 2025: The Tiny Florence: Fleeting Glimpses exhibition debuted this past February at the Palazzi Community Center's Corridoio Fiorentino, bringing together 60 candid black-and-white photographs by 21 American photography students from both The American University of Florence (AUF) and Florence University of the Arts (FUA). The exhibition offers a raw, unscripted portrayal of Florence’s charm, from historical architecture and local vendors to everyday street life, all captured with a fresh perspective.

The title Tiny Florence: Fleeting Glimpses was chosen intentionally, reflecting the exhibition’s dual themes. Each photo is physically tiny—5x5 cm in size—mirroring the nature of the moments they capture.  “The size encapsulates the meaning of fleeting,” said Kate R., an American student featured in the exhibition. “It implies shortness and glimpses, and the way it’s put together is so beautiful, I’m very impressed.”

Through candid shots, the photographers aimed to share Florence’s unfiltered beauty, highlighting moments that  locals might overlook but visitors see with fresh eyes. Many students experimented with double exposure and  motion blur, techniques that add depth and metaphorically reflect life’s constant motion in a city rooted in history and tradition. 

For many students, Tiny Florence was their first time having work featured in a gallery setting. “I’m usually on the curating side because of my art history background,” shared Rally, one of the featured artists. “It's interesting to see how they put it together and what my portraits look like up on the wall. I just tried to capture people’s energy.”

The students collaborated closely on every detail, from selecting photographs to curating the gallery space. Leah, one of the exhibition planners, explained how this year’s show was distinct from previous years: “While the goal of Tiny Florence has always been to encapsulate the city, this time we focused on motion, double exposures, and making the photos feel like they were taken mid-moment.”

The gallery event was open to the public with free admission and free prosecco, creating an inviting, celebratory atmosphere. Attendees can continue to purchase unframed photos for €15 or framed versions for €30, with proceeds going to the AUF Scholarship Foundation to support future student artists.

More than just a showcase of student work, Tiny Florence is a celebration of art as a tool for exploration and connection. Whether capturing fast-paced marketplaces or Italy's hidden alleyways, the exhibition invites viewers to pause and appreciate life’s fleeting, unscripted moments.

This exhibition will remain on display for the rest of this week until March 13, 2025. Stop by the Palazzi Community Center soon to get a final look at Tiny Florence: Fleeting Glimpses.