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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S_ck Me I'm Popular Blondiex Mickey Top Trader.
JP Malot
Painting - 40 x 40 x 3 cm Painting - 15.7 x 15.7 x 1.2 inch
€800
Vegas pop art grey Mc Queen
Christophe Comerro
Sculpture - 41 x 30 x 45 cm Sculpture - 16.1 x 11.8 x 17.7 inch
€980
Portrait of Francis Picabia
Man Ray
Photography - 27 x 21 x 0.2 cm Photography - 10.6 x 8.3 x 0.1 inch
€32,000
Marilyn colour nude on the bed
Bert Stern
Photography - 33 x 48 cm Photography - 13 x 18.9 inch
€2,490
Vegas pop art Gulf Mc Queen
Christophe Comerro
Sculpture - 41 x 30 x 45 cm Sculpture - 16.1 x 11.8 x 17.7 inch
€980
Liz Pringle Refreshments in Jamaica
Slim Aarons
Photography - 41 x 41 x 0.01 cm Photography - 16.1 x 16.1 x 0 inch
€2,850
Frida Kahlo and Diego Rivera
Marcel Sternberger
Photography - 40.6 x 50.8 x 1.3 cm Photography - 16 x 20 x 0.5 inch
€1,463
Diana Design Sculpture
Dervis Akdemir
Sculpture - 27 x 13 x 10 cm Sculpture - 10.6 x 5.1 x 3.9 inch
€174
Yoda Kaléidoscope
Benjamin Pietri
Sculpture - 26 x 19.5 x 5.5 cm Sculpture - 10.2 x 7.7 x 2.2 inch
€800 €720
Page 2 Recto Bas 1/2 - Enluminure d'après la Bible du Cardinal Maciejowski
Georges Souchal
Painting - 27 x 37 x 0.2 cm Painting - 10.6 x 14.6 x 0.1 inch
€940
Charlie Chaplin - on camera
Stavri Kalinov
Sculpture - 30 x 8 x 8 cm Sculpture - 11.8 x 3.1 x 3.1 inch
€1,300
Marilyn Relaxes in Her Hotel Room
Ed Feingersh
Photography - 30 x 25 x 0.1 cm Photography - 11.8 x 9.8 x 0 inch
€225
The last sitting - Marilyn laughing in black dior dress, 1962
Bert Stern
Photography - 48 x 33 x 1 cm Photography - 18.9 x 13 x 0.4 inch
€2,995
Mickey Finger Design
Dervis Akdemir
Sculpture - 34 x 14 x 10 cm Sculpture - 13.4 x 5.5 x 3.9 inch
€272
Christian Dior, Frida Kahlo and Maria Grazia Chiuri in Mexico City - Cruise 2024
Manuel Santelices
Fine Art Drawings - 27.9 x 35.6 x 0.3 cm Fine Art Drawings - 11 x 14 x 0.1 inch
€1,098
Luxury Art Toffee Supreme White
Ad Van Hassel
Sculpture - 33 x 10 x 10 cm Sculpture - 13 x 3.9 x 3.9 inch
€225
Nat King Cole, Mixed media on watercolor paper
Dwayne Wolff
Painting - 40.6 x 30.5 x 2.5 cm Painting - 16 x 12 x 1 inch
€595
Vallées illuminées 1987 Enlightened Valleys
Blaise Simon Balazs
Print - 28 x 38 x 0.5 cm Print - 11 x 15 x 0.2 inch
€850
Steve McQueen.War Lover. Pensif
George Barris
Photography - 36 x 28 x 1 cm Photography - 14.2 x 11 x 0.4 inch
€690
Marilyn (omaggio a M. Rotella)
Dr. Love
Painting - 40 x 30 x 0.2 cm Painting - 15.7 x 11.8 x 0.1 inch
€150
