“People often ask me why I choose to work on something so small. For me, the magic has always lived in the tiniest details, and that belief has shaped my entire journey as a miniature artist.
I grew up in Chinadoddigallu, a village near Visakhapatnam, where I first watched Etikoppaka artisans carve delicate wooden toys. Their precision fascinated me and made me believe that even the smallest creation can hold a powerful story. At 14, I made my first miniature Lord Ganesha from glass bangles. My parents always encouraged me in my process, even when relatives felt this path wasn’t practical. Their doubts only pushed me further.
Since then, I’ve created more than 650 miniature artworks, including replicas of the Taj Mahal, the Eiffel Tower, and tributes to the Indian Air Force. One of my favourite pieces is the Christ the Redeemer sculpture, which took hours of careful detailing and taught me how emotion can exist even in a sculpture barely visible to the eye.
Along the way, I completed my Master’s at New York University and earned my Doctorate from Peace University. I now work as a Project Coordinator, but I always find time to return to my pencil leads and carving tools. Last year, I also had the opportunity to showcase Indian craftsmanship in the US, something I deeply cherish.
Festivals continue to inspire my work. For Ganesh Chaturthi 2025, I carved a 23 mm Lord Ganesha on a pencil lead in six hours. For Maha Shivaratri, I sculpted Lord Shiva’s Thandavam on an 18 mm pencil lead.
And now, during the 41-day Sabarimala pilgrimage season, I’ve created my latest artwork: a Swamy Saranam Ayyappa sculpture on a charcoal pencil, 16 mm tall and 8 mm wide, completed in six hours. As a Guinness World Record micro artist, this devotional piece feels truly special.
Miniature art is my language, carrying devotion, patience, and resilience in every detail I carve.”
— Dr. Venkatesh Gattem, Micro Artist