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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La cage où les gens pleurent
Sandra Chevrier
Sculpture - 30 x 22 x 17 cm Sculpture - 11.8 x 8.7 x 6.7 inch
$1,907
Sies Marjan
Manuel Santelices
Fine Art Drawings - 35.6 x 27.9 x 0.3 cm Fine Art Drawings - 14 x 11 x 0.1 inch
$800
Open Window with Butterflies
David Gerstein
Sculpture - 49 x 39 x 5 cm Sculpture - 19.3 x 15.4 x 2 inch
$2,890
Ali Patterson II
Gerry Cranham
Photography - 30 x 45 x 0.1 cm Photography - 11.8 x 17.7 x 0 inch
$890
Tulip Fields Netherlands #05
Bernhard Lang
Painting - 40 x 40 x 2 cm Painting - 15.7 x 15.7 x 0.8 inch
$682 $614
4 Seasons Spring
Kseniia Turik Turik&Art
Painting - 50 x 40 x 3 cm Painting - 19.7 x 15.7 x 1.2 inch
$751
The Agony and Ecstasy
Faile
Print - 50.2 x 34.9 x 2.5 cm Print - 19.75 x 13.75 x 1 inch
$1,850 $1,480
Hymne d'enfants
Akira Inumaru
Fine Art Drawings - 30 x 20 cm Fine Art Drawings - 11.8 x 7.9 inch
$809
Discurso indiferente
Teo Franco
Fine Art Drawings - 42 x 29.7 x 0.1 cm Fine Art Drawings - 16.5 x 11.7 x 0 inch
$636
Bear CD Tribute, Blue Collar
Naor
Sculpture - 30 x 20 x 9 cm Sculpture - 11.8 x 7.9 x 3.5 inch
$1,329
The Green Wave
Kitikong Tilokwattanotai
Painting - 33 x 28 x 3 cm Painting - 13 x 11 x 1.2 inch
$1,849
Ceci n'est pas un vase Or
Reda Amalou
Sculpture - 45 x 12 x 12 cm Sculpture - 17.7 x 4.7 x 4.7 inch
$4,046
Beyond the Visible
Yaacov Agam
Fine Art Drawings - 25.4 x 27.9 cm Fine Art Drawings - 10 x 11 inch
$2,000
A la recherche de Van Gogh
Alexander Daniloff
Painting - 35 x 50 x 0.3 cm Painting - 13.8 x 19.7 x 0.1 inch
$601
2022/12-1- GA55
Guillaume Allemand
Sculpture - 50 x 50 x 3 cm Sculpture - 19.7 x 19.7 x 1.2 inch
$1,734
The girl with the lost pearl earring
Nef
Painting - 45 x 33 x 0.1 cm Painting - 17.7 x 13 x 0 inch
$1,618
Garçon au ballon
Seth
Fine Art Drawings - 30 x 24 x 2 cm Fine Art Drawings - 11.8 x 9.4 x 0.8 inch
$809
Abstract jazz (DV15)
David Vaamonde
Sculpture - 38 x 10 x 10 cm Sculpture - 15 x 3.9 x 3.9 inch
$925
One dollar green hope
Karl Lagasse
Sculpture - 16.5 x 38 x 7 cm Sculpture - 6.5 x 15 x 2.8 inch
$2,890
Secrets of the night
Karl-Karol Chrobok
Painting - 48 x 34 x 0.1 cm Painting - 18.9 x 13.4 x 0 inch
$694
The currency: 6274. nobody should hear it
Damien Hirst
Painting - 21.5 x 30 cm Painting - 8.5 x 11.8 inch
$21,384
