Small
Recent trends in contemporary art have meant that we've grown accustomed to large scale pieces, be that huge canvases, enormous sculptures, or giant installations.
However, the miniature has always been an important part of contemporary art. Be it paintings, sculpture, or photography as well as small format drawings, the reduced dimensions of the artwork puts new constraints on the artist, forcing them to develop their techniques and artistic finesse.
Jeff Wall, an American photographer known for his large scale photographic prints on huge illuminated boxes, has said that “the scale of a piece is not about the dimensions of it, but about the internal tensions within the composition".
Believe it or not, miniature pieces have many advantages. Smaller formats allow the artists to show off a different range of talents and techniques, and sometimes even create the impression of a much higher quality piece – such as engravings or prints. Creating a miniature is a sure sign of precision and skill.
They are also more practical to exhibit than the enormous artworks: we've all got a little space on a shelf ready to welcome a miniature sculpture, photo or drawing.
Another very practical aspect of miniatures is the myriad possibilities for display: you could put together a full shelf of statuettes, or even a dedicated framing wall – which is an increasingly popular method for display, and makes for the perfect decorative addition to a living room or bedroom. It's a mixed composition made up of an array of pieces – you guessed it – all on the same wall. The diminutive size of the miniatures also makes it easier to make sure your favourite pieces are displayed in pride of place.
Even artists who are known for their monumental works are slowly getting into miniatures, like Jeff Wall in his exhibition at the Cartier Foundation.
The miniature is making a big name for itself as a growing trend across the contemporary art world; from Gaspard Mitz, who creates tiny versions of the interiors of famous art galleries in his 'Box Stories', to the photography of Samsofy, who recreates scenes from daily life with miniscule Lego 'actors'.
Last but not least, the small scale of the pieces means that even big names come with small price tags, meaning that miniatures make excellent presents. So, go on, what are you waiting for? Browse our selection of miniature works now…
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Bethlehem Gold Print Set (3 hand signed screen prints)
Zedsy
Print - 50 x 50 x 0.3 cm Print - 19.69 x 19.69 x 0.1 inch
€1,709
Bethlehem Print Set (3 hand signed screen prints)
Zedsy
Print - 50 x 50 x 0.3 cm Print - 19.69 x 19.69 x 0.1 inch
€855
La prière sous le soleil
Xiaoyang Galas
Painting - 50 x 50 x 3.8 cm Painting - 19.7 x 19.7 x 1.5 inch
€1,586
Vive les fleurs et les chats
Seb Paul Michel
Painting - 50 x 50 x 2 cm Painting - 19.7 x 19.7 x 0.8 inch
€500
Le monde coloré de Mr.Hope
MrHope
Painting - 40 x 40 x 1 cm Painting - 15.7 x 15.7 x 0.4 inch
€150 €128
Content
Michael Grine
Fine Art Drawings - 35.6 x 27.9 x 0.3 cm Fine Art Drawings - 14 x 11 x 0.1 inch
€456
Popeye (bleu), aquagravure originale
Eric Liot
Print - 40 x 35 x 3 cm Print - 15.7 x 13.8 x 1.2 inch
€700
Popeye (jaune), aquagravure originale
Eric Liot
Print - 40 x 35 x 3 cm Print - 15.7 x 13.8 x 1.2 inch
€700
Mickey (rose) aquagravure originale
Eric Liot
Print - 36 x 32 x 3 cm Print - 14.2 x 12.6 x 1.2 inch
€700
St. Pete
Michael Grine
Fine Art Drawings - 30.5 x 30.5 x 0.3 cm Fine Art Drawings - 12 x 12 x 0.1 inch
€273
George
Michael Grine
Fine Art Drawings - 30.5 x 30.5 x 0.3 cm Fine Art Drawings - 12 x 12 x 0.1 inch
€273
Popeye (rouge), aquagravure originale
Eric Liot
Print - 40 x 35 x 3 cm Print - 15.7 x 13.8 x 1.2 inch
€700
To the Republic
Michael Grine
Painting - 23.5 x 28.6 x 1.9 cm Painting - 9.25 x 11.25 x 0.75 inch
€273
I Hit The Jackpot
Grégoire Devin
Sculpture - 40.1 x 29 x 29 cm Sculpture - 15.8 x 11.4 x 11.4 inch
€3,828
Amour, gloire & ecstasy! framed.(+ pack bonus)
JP Malot
Painting - 50 x 40 x 1 cm Painting - 19.7 x 15.7 x 0.4 inch
€699
Bonus Dream style
Bows
Fine Art Drawings - 29.7 x 42 x 1 cm Fine Art Drawings - 11.7 x 16.5 x 0.4 inch
€200
Hello people
Michael Grine
Fine Art Drawings - 43.2 x 27.9 x 0.3 cm Fine Art Drawings - 17 x 11 x 0.1 inch
€273
