Littlest Art Fair Spotlights Miami’s Local Artists [Interview]

When Miami Art Week comes to a close and the biggest names in art have gone home, local artists carry on with their lives, creating work year-round as they support their communities. It’s those very creators who often feel left out by the glamour of larger fairs taking place in their own backyard. Aiming to create a space for Miami-grown artists, Daniel Fila (aka Krave) and Diana Contreras, created the Littlest Art Fair; much smaller than other events of its kind, but arguably with the biggest heart of them all.

In 2025, the Littlest Art Fair took place December 2-6 in the neighborhood of Little Havana. It featured the work of over 40 artists, as well as DJ sets and a mural walk with artworks created just for the occasion. Artists presented their works in tiny kiosks called ventanitas, inspired by the small walk-up windows of mom-and-pop bakeries and coffee shops. Some illustrators even offered live drawings, creating works on the spot for their customers.

With a heartfelt DIY approach, the Littlest Art Fair is a grassroots effort that welcomes all. Ultimately, the event sends the message that what truly makes up a thriving art scene is not the upscale galleries and the glitziest patrons, but instead it’s the hardworking creatives who look out for one another and want to see each other reach their full potential.

We had the chance to talk to Contreras and Fila about the origins of the Littlest Art Fair, what sets it apart, and what they hope people will take away from it. Read on for My Modern Met’s exclusive interview.

What’s the story behind the Littlest Art Fair? How did it come to be?

The Littlest Art Fair was born out of proximity and necessity. I teamed up with my Little Havana neighbor, artist Danny Fila, because we were both building real practices here and noticing the same gap. Calle Ocho is one of Miami’s cultural arteries, but its artistic growth wasn’t being curated. During Miami Art Week, local artists are often sidelined, so we decided to build what we weren’t being invited into. A fair rooted in Little Havana. Super Miami. Super local. A celebration of the artists who actually live and work here.

How has the Little Havana neighborhood shaped the fair?

Little Havana isn’t a backdrop—it’s the pulse. The history, the ventanitas, the music, the layered Latin identities all give the fair its energy. It feels alive because the neighborhood is alive. This is still the clearest place to experience Miami’s true flavor, not a polished version of it.

What are ventanitas and how did this concept emerge?

Ventanitas are those walk-up windows for cafecitos (coffees) and pastelitos (pastries). It is the first thing you miss when you leave Miami. Danny had the idea to turn that into tiny art booths. Same intimacy, different fuel. Instead of caffeine, you get fresh art.

What does it take to set up a more grassroots project as opposed to the glam of other Miami Art Week events?

El Fresco Gallery had already been hosting monthly local shows for nearly two years, so the fair grew from real momentum. What it took was everything—time, sweat, favors, trust. No corporate budget, just community. Friends filled roles that would’ve cost six figures if we hadn’t spent years building relationships.

What were some of your favorite creatives that exhibited their work at the 2025 Littlest Art Fair?

Some of our favorites were the Tigers and Torches Booth, especially the Alien drawing. La Fibra’s living sewing booth and Cynon’s sewn boob pieces—unforgettable. The collaboration of myself, Hox , and Crook’s paintings layered onto Ivan Santiago’s Miami-scape photos. Also, Diana Paz’s mural at El Jardín Inn—it speaks to the future of the neighborhood.

From your perspective, what can the Littlest Art Fair do for emerging artists, and the art community in general?

We’re a year-round incubator. LAF is the culmination. Consistent opportunities help artists sharpen their visual language, and the fair puts that growth on display. We’re opening doors we didn’t have.

What do you hope people take away from the Littlest Art Fair?

A real sense of Miami—its color, risk, rhythm, and heart. This city doesn’t separate murals from galleries or street from fine art. We’re passionate, loud, and visually fearless. That’s what we’re showing.