Episode 10: Anna Carey
Neon psychic shops glowing during lockdown. Miniature motels that feel cinematic and haunted. Architectural models so convincing they trick the eye.
In this full episode of Tiny Worlds, Big Stories, Lara talks with Australian contemporary artist Anna Carey about her captivating miniature sculptures and the photographic illusions that bring them to life. Anna builds detailed architectural models — suburban homes, motel rooms, storefronts — then photographs them so convincingly that viewers often believe they’re real spaces. Her work explores memory, disappearance, nostalgia, and the emotional resonance of built environments.
In this conversation, we explore:
✨ The childhood imagination that sparked her love of small worlds
✨ How demolition and vanishing architecture influence her practice
✨ The origin of her neon-lit “Psychic Works” series in Los Angeles during COVID
✨ Why flaws, aging, and slight deterioration make miniatures feel authentic
✨ The meditative rhythm of working at small scale
✨ Balancing motherhood and returning to studio life
Anna’s work exists in the space between sculpture and photography — between truth and illusion. It asks us to slow down, lean in, and reconsider what we think we’re seeing. If you’re a miniature artist, architecture lover, or someone drawn to nostalgic spaces that feel suspended in time, this episode is for you.
Art: https://annacarey.net https://www.instagram.com/annacareyhere/
Merch: https://www.roomservice444.com/
Holiday home: https://www.rainbowbayretreat.com/rainbow-bay-retreat
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Lara's art:
https://www.instagram.com/larablairartstudio
https://www.larablairartstudio.com/
Small By Design Newsletter Sign-up: https://larablairartstudio.myflodesk.com/smallnews
00:00 – Intro & Creative Beginnings
00:45 – Childhood Imagination & Miniature Influence
01:15 – The Origin of the Psychic Shop Series (COVID Inspiration)
02:20 – Why Miniatures? An Organic Evolution
03:30 – Viewer Experience: Mystery, Illusion & Double Takes
04:45 – Photography, Lighting & Cinematic Storytelling
06:15 – Sculptor vs. Photographer Identity
07:30 – Memory, Demolition & Preserving Place Through Art
09:45 – Psychic Themes & Invisible Worlds
10:30 – Life Between LA & Australia
11:40 – How Place Shapes the Work (Light, Film, Atmosphere)
12:30 – Becoming a Mother & Creative Shifts
14:05 – Letting Go of Neon & Exploring New Directions
15:00 – “Magic Making” Installation for Children
16:45 – Current Work & Future Landscape Ideas
17:50 – Nostalgia & Tropical Memory Influence
18:30 – Artists & Inspirations
19:45 – Set Design, Theater & Expanding Scale
20:30 – PhD Work & Conceptual Foundations
22:00 – Creating During COVID
23:10 – The Role of Art in a Changing World
24:20 – Why Miniatures Feel Comforting
25:00 – Time, Focus & Creative Practice as a Parent
26:10 – Materials, Tools & Process (Foam Core, Paper, Imperfection)
28:00 – Flow State & Creative Rhythm
29:30 – Inspiration: Film, Books & Mood
31:00 – Advice for Storytelling Through Art
33:00 – Knowing When a Piece is Finished
34:00 – Exhibitions & Where to See the Work
35:00 – Art Worlds: Australia vs. U.S.
36:30 – The Coffee Table Book Idea
37:45 – Nostalgia, Architecture & Visual Culture (Vegas, Palm Springs)
38:45 – Where to Find Anna’s Work
39:00 – Final Reflection: Honoring Childhood Imagination
#TinyWorldsBigStories #AnnaCarey #MiniatureArt #ContemporaryArt #ArchitecturalPhotography #DioramaArt #PsychicWorks
