“On the occasion of Maha Shivaratri, I sculpted Lord Shiva’s Thandavam on a charcoal pencil lead—18 mm in height and 8 mm in width—in under 10 hours. It was a challenging piece, but every detail mattered. Miniature art is not about size; it’s about precision and patience.

I grew up in a small village called Chinadoddigallu in Visakhapatnam, where my fascination with miniatures began. Watching the Etikoppaka artisans carve intricate designs made me realise that art doesn’t have to be big to leave an impact.

At 14, I made a miniature Lord Ganesha from glass bangles. My parents supported me, though some relatives thought it wasn’t practical. That only made me more determined. Over time, I created more than 500 miniature artworks, including replicas of the Eiffel Tower, the Taj Mahal, and pieces honouring the Indian Air Force.

One of my recent works was a miniature Christ the Redeemer statue. It took hours of carving to get every tiny detail right. It wasn’t easy, but that’s what makes miniature art special—every fraction of a millimetre counts.

I pursued a master’s in Urban Design from NYU and a doctorate in Arts and Crafts from Peace University, Germany, but my passion for miniatures never faded. Currently, I work as a Project Coordinator while continuing my art.

This year, I’ve also had the opportunity to showcase Indian craftsmanship in the US, and I look forward to creating more.

Wishing everyone a blessed Maha Shivaratri!”

— Dr. Venkatesh Gattem, Sculpture Artist