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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Gacko Bear Love pop art Lv Color
Stéphane Alaux
Sculpture - 27 x 26 x 21 cm Sculpture - 10.6 x 10.2 x 8.3 inch
$1,530
Trinité blue bubbles - Série Trinité - Portrait Pop art cubisme
Nathalie Paccalet dite Nathy
Painting - 30 x 30 x 2 cm Painting - 11.8 x 11.8 x 0.8 inch
$380
Mémoire - Série Pop colorée
Selda Soyut dit Selda
Painting - 30 x 30 x 2 cm Painting - 11.8 x 11.8 x 0.8 inch
$741
A Courtesan in the Field of Silver Grass
Chiho Aoshima
Print - 44 x 33 cm Print - 17.3 x 13 inch
$2,120
Iconic Gameboy Nike - Blanc et rouge - Nintendo
Harissart
Sculpture - 30 x 30 x 6 cm Sculpture - 11.8 x 11.8 x 2.4 inch
$712
Retro ballet
Nikolai Angelov-Gary
Painting - 50 x 40 x 2 cm Painting - 19.7 x 15.7 x 0.8 inch
$2,076
Heinz Tomato Ketchup Box II
Madsaki
Sculpture - 26.5 x 39.5 x 22 cm Sculpture - 10.4 x 15.6 x 8.7 inch
$4,508
Peek-A-Boo - 1
Gabriela Noelle
Fine Art Drawings - 30 x 23 x 0.2 cm Fine Art Drawings - 11.8 x 9.1 x 0.1 inch
$783
Littel Girn with QR code
Charlotte Parenteau-Denoël
Print - 42 x 29.7 x 0.1 cm Print - 16.5 x 11.7 x 0 inch
$475
N°69 - 911 Almeras
Christophe Chartrel
Painting - 50 x 50 x 2 cm Painting - 19.7 x 19.7 x 0.8 inch
$1,127
The history of Art : Marcel Duchamp
Matthew Rose
Fine Art Drawings - 30 x 20 x 0.1 cm Fine Art Drawings - 11.8 x 7.9 x 0 inch
$593
Untitled
Brian Calvin
Fine Art Drawings - 33.2 x 14.9 x 2 cm Fine Art Drawings - 13.1 x 5.9 x 0.8 inch
$8,500
Bearbrick Orange Gold
Léa Poncharal
Painting - 40 x 22 x 2 cm Painting - 15.7 x 8.7 x 0.8 inch
$1,424
I Can't Recall It Lightly At All (Copper)
B.D. White
Painting - 40.6 x 50.8 x 5.1 cm Painting - 16 x 20 x 2 inch
$1,150
Crazy Yellow Monkey
Christophe Catelain
Print - 31 x 31 x 1 cm Print - 12.2 x 12.2 x 0.4 inch
$1,068
Les Belles Canapéennes 9
Mylène Vignon
Fine Art Drawings - 27 x 21 x 0.1 cm Fine Art Drawings - 10.6 x 8.3 x 0 inch
$498
Too Much Stupid Talk, Not Enough Good Music
Kristina Mallen
Sculpture - 30 x 30 x 0.1 cm Sculpture - 11.8 x 11.8 x 0 inch
$2,076
Train
Ryan Travis Christian
Fine Art Drawings - 21.59 x 27.94 x 1.5 cm Fine Art Drawings - 8.5 x 11 x 0.6 inch
$10,500
See my potato sack (Marilyn)
Daniel Funes
Print - 40.64 x 30.48 x 2.54 cm Print - 16 x 12 x 1 inch
$600
Skater Later Teddy
Rick Wolfryd
Sculpture - 31 x 19 x 12 cm Sculpture - 12.2 x 7.5 x 4.7 inch
$1,127 $1,014
Broken Button
Claes Oldenburg
Fine Art Drawings - 41 x 36 x 16 cm Fine Art Drawings - 16.1 x 14.2 x 6.3 inch
$20,500
SHIITAKE SPROUTS : MINIATURE MAGIC UNVEILED
Potchi Moopp
Design - 50 x 50 x 50 cm Design - 19.7 x 19.7 x 19.7 inch
$7,118
Effeullier la marguerite
Alex Laben
Painting - 50 x 50 x 0.5 cm Painting - 19.7 x 19.7 x 0.2 inch
$1,708
Ours Pompon Klein print
François Pompon et Yves Klein
Print - 30 x 40 x 0.1 cm Print - 11.8 x 15.7 x 0 inch
$475
Malab’art Frida 33cm
Rakel Wajnberg
Sculpture - 33 x 18 x 10 cm Sculpture - 13 x 7.1 x 3.9 inch
$4,627
Origin of desire -Result of radioactive contamination
Mari Ito
Sculpture - 30 x 11 x 11 cm Sculpture - 11.8 x 4.3 x 4.3 inch
$2,584
Le Cri du Coeur
Thierry Trivès
Sculpture - 50 x 22.09 x 13.35 cm Sculpture - 19.7 x 8.7 x 5.3 inch
$5,813
Love Railroad KoeurPoration
M. Koeur
Fine Art Drawings - 20.3 x 30.5 x 0.3 cm Fine Art Drawings - 8 x 12 x 0.1 inch
$1,424
The Love profusion
Stephanie Godann
Sculpture - 27.5 x 27.5 x 4 cm Sculpture - 10.8 x 10.8 x 1.6 inch
$652
Deconstructed Mouse (Blue)
Matt Gondek
Design - 26.7 x 20.3 x 20.3 cm Design - 10.5 x 8 x 8 inch
$1,424
Minion au Fusain
Vincent Duchêne
Sculpture - 35 x 30 x 15 cm Sculpture - 13.8 x 11.8 x 5.9 inch
$4,745
