Gallery 1624

20 Miniature Visions from the Dialysis Chair

Based in Longueuil, Quebec, Nikola Ragus is a multi-disciplinary creator, artistic director, and musician. This “Mini Plein Air” project was born within the four-hour confines of dialysis sessions, where vast landscapes and art history are translated into the intimate, 2×3 inch scale of reclaimed mint tins. Through this practice, the work explores the resilience of the creative spirit, proving that a restricted physical environment can still yield a boundless artistic horizon.

Curatorial Statement: What defines the “scale” of an artist’s world? For an artist living in Longueuil and working within the rhythmic, four-hour boundaries of a dialysis chair, the horizon is not found in the distance, but in the palm of the hand. The Pocket Horizon presents 20 oil paintings, each no larger than 2×3 inches, created within physical confines but reflecting a boundless creative reach.

This collection is organized into three distinct journeys:

• The Heritage of Home: A deep dive into the architecture and atmosphere of the Rive-Sud and Montreal. From the Gothic towers of Longueuil to the neon glow of the Five Roses sign, these works document a local world with profound intimacy.
• The Museum Dialogue: A series of “conversations” with the masters of art history. Inspired by visits to the MBAM, the artist translates the sweeping light of Monet, the rhythmic brushwork of Van Gogh, and the structural elegance of Wu Guanzhong into the miniature format.
• The Global Reflection: A record of movement and life beyond the clinical setting. From the sun-drenched Halifax Public Gardens to the mirrored distortions of Anish Kapoor’s Cloud Gate in Chicago, these works prove that beauty and inspiration are constant companions, regardless of physical environment or medical necessity.

By utilizing the “Mint Tin” as both a studio and a frame, the artist invites the viewer to lean in close. In these 20 intervals of light, we find a powerful testament to the resilience of the creative spirit: the smaller the canvas, the more concentrated the vision.

Cloud Gate at Millennium Park 2025 | Oil on Canvas in a Mint Tin This study captures the liquid-mercury surface of Anish Kapoor’s iconic Chicago sculpture. The painting focuses on how the massive form pulls the surrounding skyscrapers and sky into a single, curving reflection. Even at this miniature scale, the work preserves the interactive and monumental spirit of the original Chicago landmark. [SOLD]

The Church of Longueuil 2025 | Oil on Canvas in a Mint Tin A cornerstone of the artist’s local series, this work depicts the Co-cathedral of Saint Anthony of Padua in Longueuil, Quebec. The artist emphasizes the towering Gothic Revival architecture against a soft, atmospheric sky. It represents a deep connection to the history and skyline of the artist’s home community. [Purchase]

Public Gardens in Halifax 2025 | Oil on Canvas in a Mint Tin Part of the East Coast Series, this work was created during a summer journey that required travel dialysis. It captures the sun-drenched, Victorian elegance of the Halifax Public Gardens in full bloom. The piece is a testament to the artist’s commitment to documenting travels, regardless of medical necessity. [Purchase]

Five Roses on a Snowy Day 2025 | Oil on Canvas in a Mint Tin The iconic Farine Five Roses neon sign is a titan of the Montreal landscape and a beacon of industrial history. In this miniature study, the artist captures its crimson glow against the muted, blue-grey tones of a heavy snowfall. It illustrates the theme of finding grand, iconic beauty within a highly compact space. [Purchase]

Public Gardens Back Fountain 2025 | Oil on Canvas in a Mint Tin This work captures a “hidden gem” moment behind Horticultural Hall in the historic Halifax Public Gardens. The artist focuses on the lush, dappled sunlight and classical architecture of this quiet Victorian-era corner. It is a personal favorite from the artist’s journey through the Atlantic provinces. [Purchase]

Ave. De Lorimier et De Maisonneuve 2025 | Oil on Canvas in a Mint Tin A vibrant urban study of a familiar Montreal intersection, this painting captures the city’s unique movement and light. The artist focuses on the structural lines of the streetscape and the atmospheric depth of the urban horizon. It distills the energy of a bustling metropolis into the intimate scale of a reclaimed mint tin. [Purchase]

Smiling Sheep 2025 | Oil on Canvas in a Mint Tin While much of the collection focuses on landscape, this piece is an affectionate foray into animal portraiture. Captured within the 2×3 inch format, it highlights the soft, tactile quality of wool and an expressive, gentle facial character. It celebrates the artist’s favorite animal subject with a sense of warmth and humor. [Purchase]

Golden Rims 2025 | Oil on Canvas in a Mint Tin An original exploration of metallic light and reflections within the signature “Mini Plein Air” format. The artist focuses on the way light interacts with polished surfaces, creating a shimmering, jewel-like effect. It is a technical exercise in capturing high-contrast reflections while maintaining a soft, painterly atmosphere. [Purchase]

Lune Nocturne 2025 | Oil on Canvas in a Mint Tin As the final piece of 2025 painted during a dialysis session, this nocturnal study holds a significant place in the collection. It captures the quiet, blue-toned stillness of a moonlit night, focusing on the interplay between cool lunar light and deep urban shadows. The work translates the mystery of the night into a portable vision that concludes a year of artistic resilience. [Purchase]

The Lady with the Umbrella 2025 | Oil on Canvas in a Mint Tin A focused study of Claude Monet’s Woman with a Parasol, this work captures the fleeting essence of light and wind. The artist translates the sweeping brushwork and ephemeral atmosphere of the French master into the confines of a reclaimed tin. It reflects a momentary escape into the sun-drenched atmosphere of a breeze-filled meadow. [Purchase]

Monk by the Sea 2025 | Oil on Canvas in a Mint Tin A miniature study after Caspar David Friedrich’s masterpiece of Romanticism. The artist captures the vast, existential scale of the coastline, contrasting the infinite horizon with the physical restrictions of the clinical setting. It is a meditation on the sublime, proving that even the smallest canvas can hold a sense of immense space. [Purchase]

Baie St. Paul en Hiver 2025 | Oil on Canvas in a Mint Tin This work is a tribute to A.Y. Jackson and the Group of Seven’s legacy of documenting the Canadian landscape. The artist distills the rugged, snowy terrain of Quebec into a palm-sized composition, focusing on the rhythmic shadows and cold light of winter. It celebrates a shared cultural heritage of finding beauty in the harshness of the northern seasons. [Purchase]

Forest Walk 2025 | Oil on Canvas in a Mint Tin Following in the footsteps of Vincent van Gogh, this piece translates the master’s energetic, rhythmic brushwork into a 2×3 inch space. The artist captures the vibration of light through the trees, creating a sense of constant movement. It serves as a vibrant escape from the stillness of the dialysis chair into a world of color and life. [Purchase]

Mini Kyffin Style Mountain Valley 2025 | Oil on Canvas in a Mint Tin Inspired by the thick, palette-knife style of Welsh painter Sir Kyffin Williams, this study focuses on the moody atmosphere of a mountain valley. The artist utilizes heavy texture to bring a sense of geological weight to the miniature format. It is a dialogue between the current environment and the bold, somber tones of the Welsh landscape. [Purchase]

English Countryside 2025 | Oil on Canvas in a Mint Tin A study after the renowned Wu Guanzhong, this piece merges Western oil techniques with traditional Chinese aesthetic minimalism. The artist focuses on the fluid lines and sparse, elegant composition of the countryside. It represents a cross-cultural exploration of form, distilled into the portable “Mini Plein Air” format. [Purchase]

Danseuses 2025 | Oil on Canvas in a Mint Tin This study of Edgar Degas’s ballerinas focuses on the candid, behind-the-scenes atmosphere of a rehearsal hall. The artist distills the Impressionist’s focus on soft light and the delicate blue textures of tutus into a miniature scale. It creates a bridge between the historical stage and the quiet focus of the artist’s modern-day clinical environment. [Purchase]

Monet’s Giverny Estate 2025 | Oil on Canvas in a Mint Tin Part of the Museum Series, this work was born from studies of the collection at the Montreal Museum of Fine Arts (MBAM). It depicts the lush, secluded atmosphere of Claude Monet’s gardens, focusing on the vibrant greenery and architecture. The piece explores the boundaries between historical grandeur and modern, intimate portability. [Purchase]

Portrait in Fur 2025 | Oil on Canvas in a Mint Tin A focused study after photographer Tina Turnbow, who took this photo of the actress Marisa Tomei. This piece explores the tactile nature of texture and intimate portraiture. Within the 2×3 inch confines of the tin, the artist translates photographic depth into expressive oil strokes. It serves as an exploration of the human gaze, rendered during a quiet interval of a dialysis session. [Purchase]

Whiskey and Flowers 2025 | Oil on Canvas in a Mint Tin An original composition capturing a quiet, domestic moment featuring the artist’s cat, Whiskey. The painting focuses on the “orange creamsicle” cat’s curiosity while investigating a floral arrangement at the dinner table. It serves as a personal anchor in the collection, translating the warmth of home life into a miniature format. [Purchase]

Waiting for a Dance 2025 | Oil on Canvas in a Mint Tin An original narrative work, this piece captures a profound moment of stillness and anticipation. Through careful composition and soft lighting, the artist evokes a sense of quiet story-telling within the restricted space of the tin. It stands as a meditation on the beauty found in moments of pause and reflection. [Purchase]

All images copyright Nikola Ragus and may not be used without permission.