A NEW WAY TO EXPLORE UPTOWN
There's a tiny door hiding nearby.
Tiny Doors is a free, self-guided art hunt built by a crew of volunteer artists and makers. These magical, miniature doors are tucked into shop windows and curious corners across Uptown’s four districts and entered into ArtPrize as an official work of art!
1. Cast your first vote in person. ArtPrize rules require your very first vote to be cast from within the official ArtPrize boundary in downtown and Uptown Grand Rapids — after that, you can vote from anywhere. The starting point is at the Not-So-Tiny Door at 368 Diamond Ave SE.
2. Register through the official ArtPrize app or website. You’ll create a free voter account the first time you vote.
3. Search 97977. Find our entry by name (Uptown GR Tiny Doors Collective) or number (97977) in the ArtPrize app or on artprize.org, then cast your vote.
4. Vote as many times as the rules allow. Public votes help decide both the grand prize and category awards, so every vote genuinely matters.
ArtPrize 2026
This year’s event runs September 18 – October 3, 2026, throughout Grand Rapids. Tiny Doors is entered as a single collaborative work, created by the Uptown GR Tiny Doors Collective.
THE BIG IDEA
A walkable storybook door by door.
Every Tiny Door in Uptown was designed and built by hand, then tucked into a real Uptown business storefronts and shop interiors. No two look alike, and no two are found the same way. It’s part scavenger hunt, part neighborhood art walk, and entirely free. Wander any of our four districts, keep your eyes moving in every direction, and let the doors pull you toward shops and corners you might otherwise walk right past.
Built by volunteers for the neighborhood
A community of local artists and makers, otherwise known as “The Uptown GR Tiny Door Collective,” gathered for a Maker’s Night build session where they turned scrap wood, paint, and imagination into a district full of miniature doors.
Hosted by Uptown businesses
Independent shops, cafés, and green spaces across Uptown each volunteered a window, wall, or corner as a home for a door.
Free, accessible, and made for wandering
No ticket and no app required. Bring the kids, bring a friend, bring yourself on a lunch break — there’s no one right way to do it.
HOW THE HUNT WORKS
Four easy steps. Zero right answers.
This isn’t a race and there’s no finish line — just a good excuse to slow down and look closer at Uptown.
Grab the map
Use the trail map below to see roughly where doors are tucked away across Uptown’s four districts.
Pick a district
Start anywhere — Eastown, Wealthy Street, East Fulton, and East Hills all have doors of their own.
Look closer
Check the storefront, then check inside. Some doors don’t give themselves up on the first pass.
FIND YOUR WAY
The trail runs through all four districts.
Begin your adventure at the Not-So-Tiny (Door #1), then explore all remaining 29 Tiny Doors hidden throughout Uptown’s Eastown, East Hills, East Fulton, and Wealthy Street districts. Follow the 3-mile trail from start to finish, or use the map to create your own route and discover the doors at your own pace.
Tiny Door Host Locations
MEET THE COLLECTIVE
Every door has a maker and a home.
Every tiny door on the trail was imagined, designed, and handcrafted by a volunteer from the Uptown GR Tiny Doors Collective. When we put out the call, this incredible group said “yes” and helped transform a big idea into something small, magical, and cute that the entire community can enjoy.
Our Maker’s Night was the first time the Collective came together — spending an evening painting, building, sharing ideas, and getting to know one another. It marked the beginning of a collaborative effort that will leave a lasting mark on Uptown. This project simply wouldn’t exist without the generosity, creativity, and time each volunteer contributed. We’re deeply grateful to every member of the Tiny Doors Collective for helping bring this trail to life.
1. Cameron Klingberg | The Not-So-Tiny Door @ Vetr Health
2. Lindsay Bruce | Scorpion Hearts Club
3. Mary Bush | Hancock
The Hyperfixator “Every book nook kit I’ve ever built (1.5 book nooks to be exact) have fallen apart at the seams, so I’m unsure where I got the gal to do this when Uptown GR announced they were doing a tiny doors uptown GR collective for art prize this year, but 6 days and a dumpster fire of a craft room (miniature and human sized) later and this is what I cooked up. Super fun and challenging project for me & am so grateful I was invited to do this!”
4. Celeste Archambault | Good Judys
5. Kaitlyn Horpedahl & Kier Macartney | Thai Table
Portal to the Southwest “Both artists have strong ties to the Southwest, and are always inspired by the colors and patterns found in that region. We arrived at the making event with no plan, and just had fun with the materials at hand. Open the door for a friendly surprise!”
6. Rain Thelemann | PICNIC
7. Lindsay Felicijan & Shawn Felicijan | The Grey Rabbit
Rabbits’ Hideout “Made by Mother & Daughter duo – all for the love of the rabbits. Inspired by their love for rabbits and the work they do at Rabbit Angels Rabbit Rescue, where they believe every bunny deserves a safe and loving forever home. Every detail from the applewood sticks, the rabbit feed within the moss, and the nibbled-on wooden blocks were placed to make this feel like a true door to a rabbit’s home.”
8. Katie Wittwer | Niksi
9. Amanda Klaasen | Mokaya
10. Sam Case & Everett Case | Wealthy Bakery
Will you be my neighbor? “We wanted our door to feel like it was a part of the neighborhood and would welcome anyone in. The red of the door is a nod to both Wealthy Street Bakery and the color of our own home’s front door. See how many hidden details you can find the closer you look!”
11. Bekah Sweda | Homebody
12. Shannon Hubble & Danielle Belleveau | Donkey Taqueria
Oasis Behind the Red Door “This tiny door design was inspired by Donkey, the laid-back charm of Palm Springs, and the simple pleasure of patio time with friends. The bright red door, greenery, and playful details create a colorful, inviting space that feels relaxed and a little whimsical. One pet from each artist is featured in the windows, adding a personal touch to the scene. Overall, the piece celebrates friendship, good times, and the joy of creating a space that feels like a perfect little getaway.”
13. Cari Ayoub | Furniture City Creamery
Furniture City Coinery “This tiny door is a celebration to one of my many collections: pennies. What started as a collection of pressed pennies (yes, the smashed ones you collect as a souvenir) soon turned into a collection of all pennies (mostly the copper ones, pre-1982). The penny is one of those items we all so often take for granted, passing them by on the ground, but with the discontinuation of the humble single cent piece, it felt only fitting to make a tribute to the penny. This display features 101 circulated coins, one from each year from 1925 to 2025.”
14. Kelsey Betts | Commune
15. Glenda Kraemer | Harmonic Egg & Wellness
16. Alynn Guerra & Flora Duckworth-Guerra | Hopscotch
17. Sarah Ling & Emily Ling | LeBon Macaron
18. Rhiannan Sibbald & Jakob Bigard | Rock Paper Scissors Consignment
19. Julia Saldivia | Global Infusion
“As a former barista at Global Infusion, I was inspired to create this Tiny Door mosaic using broken ceramics I had amassed during my time working at the cafe. These items might otherwise have been discarded, through this piece of art they became a collection of color and texture, giving new life to fragments connected to a meaningful chapter of my life.”
20. Lacey Twardowski | Urban Exchange
21. Robyn Smith & Garth LaVere | Fulton Street Farmers Market
A Wee Funky Fulton “Our love for Fulton Market inspired the tiny door, where we recreated the headhouse into miniature. Tiny troll dolls shop for their fruits and veggies, while also relaxing and enjoying the joy the market has to offer. We hope everyone sees their favorite part of Fulton in our door!”
22. Lance McFarlin & Shelly DeJong | Argos Used Books & Records
The Little Little Free Library “We are Shelly and Lance and we wanted to create a tiny door to honor the Free Little Library. We love the sense of community that comes from visiting a free little library (or little art gallery, or trinket exchange, or or or…). Stop by Argos and check out some of our favorite tiny books while perusing their regular sized offerings!”
23. Jamie Gibson | Yours Truly Galleria
24. Kailey Sullivan | That Early Bird
25. Ingrid Miller | Spirit Dreams
26. Chelsey Duffy & Allison Waldron | Sticky Fingers
27. Sonia Cortes | Riverside Market
28. Heather VanderMeulen & Madison Alderink | Rebel
29. Joyce Franklin & Hazel Franklin | Fresh Water Whale
30. Rebeckah Mier & Emma Fiorenzo | Harmony Brewing Co.
A special thank you to Hot Glue Creux for co-hosting Makers Night and helping make the evening such a memorable start to the project.