ENG: Tiny Florence is an archive of photographs produced by Florence University of the Arts – American University of Florence students. The collection highlights various aspects of the city from the perspective of International study abroad students who are new to Florence and taking an introductory photography course. 

One student from the street photography course describes the experience as a step outside her comfort zone and a way to “gain confidence navigating Florence.” Some assignments require students to photograph strangers from an arm’s length and to wander down unfamiliar streets, something many never imagined doing in their home country. These experiences offer the students a unique way to delve into the city, resulting in artwork that showcases fresh perspectives of Florentine architecture, landscapes, people, and culture. 

Over the course of the academic session, students acquire considerable technical skills that help convert the moments they capture into unique, monochromatic works of art. The process allows students to communicate their impressions of the city and voice their artistic style. One student describes his final work as “emoting a cohesive feeling of tranquility.” The tiny 6x6cm images encourage viewers to take a closer look- drawing attention to aspects of the city that often go unseen. Tiny Florence represents the small pieces that make up the city.

ITA: Firenze Piccolina è un archivio di foto prodotte dagli studenti della Florence University of The Arts – The American University of Florence. La collezione evidenzia vari aspetti della città dalla prospettiva di studenti internazionali che stanno esplorando Firenze per la prima volta e frequentando un corso introduttivo di fotografia.

Uno degli studenti del corso di Street Photography ha descritto l’esperienza come un passo fuori dalla sua zona di confort ed un modo di “acquisire fiducia nel navigare Firenze”.  Alcuni degli esercizi richiesti dagli studenti includevano fotografare estranei da vicino and esplorare strade a loro poco conosciute, attività che probabilmente non avrebbero svolto nel loro paese d’origine. Queste esperienze hanno permesso di immergersi in un modo unico nella città, portando alla creazione di opere che mostrano nuove prospettive dell’architettura, delle paesaggi, della popolazione e cultura fiorentine. Durante la sessione accademica gli studenti hanno acquisito una considerevole conoscenza tecnica che li ha aiutati a catturare momenti chiave in queste opere monocromatiche. Il processo gli permette di comunicare le impressioni che hanno della città e allo stesso tempo dare voce al loro espressione artistica. Uno studente in particolare ha descritto il suo lavoro finale come “se esprimesse un coeso sentimento di tranquillità”. Le piccole immagini 6×6 cm incoraggiano l’osservatore a guardare meglio- attirando l’attenzione a dettagli che andrebbero persi altrimenti. Firenze Piccolina rappresenta tutti i singoli pezzettini che rappresentano l’intera città.

Neptune’s Child explores my idea of growing in confidence through a siren-esque character in three different stages of the process. The first chapter being false idealistic confidence, the version of the siren’s self she aspires to be, this identity only exists in her head. Chapter 2 showcases her confidence in her home in comfort clothes that hide her body. Although this version of herself is based in reality, the vulnerability and comfortability can only thrive in private without any judgment. The 3rd and final chapter is the siren out in the world embracing herself and the world around her. She is able to confidently wear clothes that hug her body in public. I chose to convey the theme of confidence through the siren character because of my affinity of water and mythology surrounding it. Sirens have been represented as beautiful alluring women residing near bodies of water. For me the siren represents this confidence I inspire to have.

Bio: Chloe Johnson is an American photography student currently earning her bachelor’s in photography at Virginia Commonwealth University and studying abroad at Florence University of The Arts for a semester. Born February 25 2002 in Dallas, Texas she grew up in Hillsborough, North Carolina.

Artist Statement:  My work as an artist focuses on highlighting black bodies, culture and women through fantasy and romantic ideas. Exploring black femininity in both traditional and non traditional aesthetics in order to expand our ideas of black womanhood. I use my work as a form of escapism creating stories and exploring personal themes through surrealist and fantasy aesthetics.

Maybe love stories were written about our friends.

Throughout the entirety of my life, through trials and tribulations, one thing has remained predominantly the strongest: my female friendships. Romantic love comes and goes. It never stays too long. But female friendships can last forever and are a constant reminder of love and support. 

There is also something special about the female connection; the way we hold space for each other is just different. Female friendship is divine. We care for each other in a tender and gentle way that is unlike any other type of relationship in the world. This divine femininity is present in all aspects of female friendship, but where I find it the most prominent is in the little moments. Whether it be through combing each other’s hair or painting nails, these small acts of femininity represent the core of all female friendships. In an effort to capture the delicate intimacy of female friendship, I created this series of photos as a love letter to all of the women in my life.  

Bio: Lauren Vincent is a third year honors student at the University of Colorado Boulder. She is pursuing a Bachelor of Fine Arts in Photography along with a double minor in Media Production and Art History. Lauren has published work in two exhibitions, La La and Untitled, both in Boulder, Colorado. Additionally, she was selected by the University of Colorado Art Board of Directors along with a small handful of students to continue her fine art practice at a higher level and earn a BFA degree. Lauren is 20 years old and grew up in Louisburg, Kansas, a rural small town 30 minutes south of Kansas City with a population of 4,000 people. Photography has been her passion since getting her first camera in middle school. From then on, her life has been a whirlwind of ingenuity and self-expression. In late middle school and early highschool she started out doing commercial freelance photography, such as weddings and senior portraits, but has since shifted into creating conceptual fine art photography series.

Artist Statement: I am in a constant state of motion sickness. The human experience is constantly changing and its uniqueness varies from person to person. This change and consistent movement of life is something that has been hard for me to stomach. I have found little to no ways in my mind to grasp this thought and process changing yet impactful events in time and my life. But, there is one method that has helped me find peace of mind within the world; Photography. Photography does something our minds cannot. Photography captures change and makes time completely static. Photography shapes my perspective of the world and allows me to tell my stories of the vast human experience and how it has impacted my life. I use portraiture and meticulously created sets to capture my journey with the movement of life, and to express my emotions derived from societal issues such as sexism and the male gaze, and personal events such as mental health crises, eating disorders, and my experience as a woman in the world. I use both mediums of digital photography and analog photography.

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As an ode to the abandoned grandchild, to the grandparents who were there, and everything in between, I am exploring the people who should hold their place. There is a disconnect, for me, between me and my grandparents, due to distance apart, intense family drama, degeneration, and premature death. The role of having someone in my life that is of another generation, beyond my parents’ generation, has been unfulfilled. Despite today’s political divide between generations, I find it significant to have someone older, almost as mentor, in life. 

Combined with the lack of that mentor figure, and the emotional loss and detachment of that part of the common family structure, I find myself looking for my grandparents everywhere. I watch older people walk in the street and wonder who they are, the significance of each wrinkle in their face, their existence at their stage in life. Even outside of my own family, the American way is to put our older generation away, to send them to homes and facilities where they are left, ignored, and forgotten. A beautiful aspect of my time in Italy has been to see that same forgotten generation, outside of their homes, taking walks, riding bikes, getting a coffee, socializing, and being an active part of society. This project is a portrait series dedicated to these people, to my own grandparents, and to the unresolved grandchild inside me.

Maeve Mugglebee is a 22 year-old photographer studying at the American University of Florence. Originally from Los Angeles, California, Maeve spent her childhood doing performing arts and discovered her passion for photography at the age of 13. She spent two years in Seattle, Washington working towards a double degree in International Studies and Photography and due to the COVID-19 pandemic, decided to continue her education abroad. In 2021, she moved to Florence to pursue a Career Certificate in Visual Communications with a specialization in Photography. Her work has gone from simple everyday shots to concert photography and portraiture, to travel and landscape photography, and she now continues to practice photography across all disciplines.  

“Tiny Florence – Firenze Piccolina” è una vetrina che celebra l’essenza di Firenze attraverso i suoi dettagli. La mostra riunisce una serie di fotografie che catturano il vibrante paesaggio urbano, le interazioni tra le persone e il ricco patrimonio della città.

La mostra racchiude lo spirito di questa straordinaria città in un formato piccolo ma d’impatto: le fotografie in bianco e nero di 5 cm x 5 cm sono state sviluppate con metodi tradizionali.

Le opere esposte sono state create durante i corsi di “Introduction to Photography” e “Landscape and Architectural Photography”.

La missione di AUF / FUA-AUF è l’integrazione culturale, il coinvolgimento nella comunità locale e l’apprendimento esperienziale. Visti attraverso una lente diversa, questi momenti offrono una visione nuova, celebrando l’unicità e la vivacità che caratterizzano l’esperienza fiorentina.

Vi invitiamo a guardare la città da una nuova prospettiva, siamo curiosi di vedere quali piccoli dettagli di Firenze sono riusciti a catturare i nostri studenti.

The Tiny Florence exhibition is a showcase celebrating the essence of Florence with a collection of artistic expressions. The exhibition brings together a series of photographs capturing the vibrant cityscape and interactions between people and the city’s rich heritage.

The Tiny Florence exhibition encapsulates this remarkable city’s spirit in a small, but impactful, format 5 cm x 5 cm black and white photographs were developed using traditional methods. Works on display were created during the classes: Introduction to Photography and Landscape and Architectural Photography.

AUF / FUA-AUF’s mission aims to integrate culture, engage with the community, and provide learning through experience.

Seen through a different lens, these moments offer a fresh view, celebrating the uniqueness and liveliness which shape the Florentine experience. We invite you to look at the city from a new perspective. We are intrigued by tiny parts of Florence future students may capture.

“Quando scatto delle foto, cerco di riprendere una scena che catturi la curiosità di chi osserva la foto… voglio che lo spettatore si chieda come potrebbe essere la vita per quella persona rappresentata, o quante persone hanno annusato quel fiore, o quanti hanno attraversato quella porta”

Firenze è una città che rimane fedele alle sue radici storiche ed è un hub per le voci contemporanee. La bellezza sta sia nel ricco patrimonio artistico della città che si può trovare nei suoi numerosi musei sia nelle sue strade ricolme d’arte e architettura degli ultimi cinque secoli. Questa miscela crea un ambiente stimolante che gli studenti FUA-AUF abbracciano nelle loro attività accademiche.

La mostra, realizzata dagli studenti di Introduction to Digital Photography, consiste in una selezione di stampe in bianco e nero 5×5 cm. Agli studenti è stato fornito questo formato specifico da seguire e poi è stato dato loro libero sfogo per interpretare ciò che Firenze rappresenta per loro. Questo mezzo offre l’opportunità di catturare i dettagli inaspettati della città.

Questo progetto curatoriale fa parte della più ampia missione FUA-AUF che mira a integrare studenti e comunità locale attraverso un processo di apprendimento esperienziale. Immergendosi nell’ambiente fiorentino, gli studenti hanno sviluppato un’opportunità unica per interagire con la comunità e sviluppare legami sociali e culturali.

“When I take pictures, I try to capture a moment that leaves a person intrigued in the subject … I want the viewer to wonder or have a sense of curiosity of what life may be like for that person or how many people have smelled that flower or walked through that doorway”

Florence is a city that stays true to its historical roots and is a hub for contemporary voices.  Beauty lies both in the city’s rich artistic heritage that can be found in its many museums and its streets showcasing art and architecture from the past five centuries. This blend creates a stimulating environment that FUA-AUF students embrace in their academic pursuits. 

The exhibition, created by Introduction to Digital Photography students, consists of a selection of 5×5 cm black and white prints of students’ work. These student photographers were given just this specific format to follow and then given free rein to interpret what Florence represents to them. This medium offers an opportunity to capture the raw details of the city. 

This curatorial project is part of the larger FUA-AUF mission that aims to integrate students and community through a process of experiential learning. Immersing themselves in the Florentine environment, the students developed a unique opportunity to engage with the local community and develop social and cultural connections. 

Miniscule Moments and Unique Angles of “La Bella”

To capture the candid beauty of Florence and its inhabitants, FUA-AUF students photographed natural interactions between people and the landscape, in order to revitalise their observation skills and appreciation of the “little” things.

Tiny Florence is a curated collection of 5cm x 5cm black and white images, photographed by students taking the “Introduction to Street Photography” course.

“If I weren’t taking this class, I wouldn’t be looking around intentionally. I feel inspired to explore less popular areas, and am exploring my environment through the perspective of how to frame it best.”

Tiny Florence – Summer 2024

“When people view my photos, I want them to feel a sense of familiarity, longing, and comfort all at once. I aim to capture the small details and moments that bring life to the mundane. My hope is that my pictures evoke a sense of nostalgia, resonating with the viewer’s own cherished memories.” – Isabel Brooke Seldes, Introduction to Digital Photography Student

“I am fascinated with the pigeons of Florence. Some look similar, but most are very different compared to the ones we have in America. Each one has a unique feather pattern with strange colors. I had never seen a brown or spotted pigeon until I came to Italy.” – Maya Stewart, Intermediate Landscape and Architectural Photography Student

“Firenze Piccolina” – Tiny Florence is an intimate photographic journey. Shared through the eyes of FUA-AUF students enrolled in Introduction to Photography, and Intermediate Landscape and Architectural Photography classes. These photographs capture the essence of Florence in a series of 6 cm x 6 cm black-and-white snapshots. The students have reached deeper, beyond the typical Florentine experience, seeking beauty in the unseen and overlooked. 

Tiny Florence is meant to challenge the audience to find splendor in simplicity, and to take a moment to reflect on the smaller moments that are often overshadowed by the city’s famed landmarks. Each image pays homage to the individuality of the city’s character, through themes such as its people, the Arno River, buildings, statues, and all the oddities in between. The layout of this exhibition invites potential viewers to come in and observe, and to recognize how the display alludes to the familiar Florentine aspects they hold dear to their hearts. In both content and display, the exhibition is a tribute to Florence’s timeless identity.

These students have learned not only to observe their world closely, but also to connect with it. They have fostered a deeper understanding of the world that surrounds them and engaged on a higher level within the community through their close study of the city and its people. FUA-AUF promotes and renews creative disciplines in a city renowned for its historic innovations, by enriching students through cultural integration, community engagement, and experiential learning. This exhibition is not just a display of skill, but part of their story. Each photograph is a tiny (piccolina) chapter of their time in Florence. 

Tiny Florence – Winter/Spring 2025
“Fleeting Glimpses”

“I want people to feel lost in time. When was this photo taken? Who knows. [The viewers] should feel calm and that something just feels right.”
– Aydin Chappell, Introduction to Street Photography Student

Through the eyes of students, our exhibition, Tiny Florence: Fleeting Glimpses, offers a personal and compelling visual experience that documents the unguarded moments of daily life. This exhibition features a photographic exploration of these fading instances, capturing the rhythm of life in this artistically rich city. We invite viewers to experience Florence as an ever-changing canvas of unposed charm.

This group exhibition features a collection of sixty, five by five centimeter framed photographs, each capturing a singular moment frozen in time. Scattered throughout the gallery, the arrangement reflects the organic and unpredictable nature of street photography itself. Each student in this exhibition adds their distinct viewpoint to a collective story. The collection as a whole creates a cohesive picture of Florence; a city seen through brief moments of movement, introspection, and relationships.

The photographs explore the diverse beauty of Florence—its architecture, its nature, and the dynamic flow of people—all elements that make this city beloved by so many. The audience is urged by the exhibition to slow down, enjoy the little things, and notice the poetic rhythm of daily existence. This collection of raw, unplanned moments challenges the traditional methods of documenting and remembering cities in a world full of carefully edited digital photography.

At FUA and AUF, we intend to cultivate a dynamic and invigorating experience for both the students and the public. Based on seamless integration and engagement with the community through experiential learning, the university provides space for students to explore a cultural setting and nurture their academic skills.

As you gaze through the faux windows of the exhibit, we invite you to embrace the unexpected and see Florence through fresh eyes—one fleeting glimpse at a time.