Close Before Striking IX
Roberto Fonfria
Painting - 50.8 x 40.6 x 0.3 cm Painting - 20 x 16 x 0.1 inch
$980
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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Space oddity
Patricia Pierre Gomez Baranda
Painting - 40 x 50 x 0.1 cm Painting - 15.7 x 19.7 x 0 inch
$417
Fait moi un câlin !
Noël Granger
Fine Art Drawings - 38 x 28 cm Fine Art Drawings - 15 x 11 inch
$227 $204
True bleu
Patricia Pierre Gomez Baranda
Painting - 21 x 30 x 0.1 cm Painting - 8.3 x 11.8 x 0 inch
$453
Femme sur d'autres planètes
Gris De Garance
Painting - 30 x 15 x 1 cm Painting - 11.8 x 5.9 x 0.4 inch
$119
Retriever in poltrona verde
Samoré
Fine Art Drawings - 41 x 33 x 0.5 cm Fine Art Drawings - 16.1 x 13 x 0.2 inch
$775
Bird in the city
Juffrouw Springtouw
Painting - 40 x 50 x 2 cm Painting - 15.7 x 19.7 x 0.8 inch
$1,133
Chardons
Doïna Vieru
Fine Art Drawings - 40 x 30 x 0.1 cm Fine Art Drawings - 15.7 x 11.8 x 0 inch
$477
Chardons
Doïna Vieru
Fine Art Drawings - 40 x 30 x 0.1 cm Fine Art Drawings - 15.7 x 11.8 x 0 inch
$477
Chardons
Doïna Vieru
Fine Art Drawings - 40 x 30 x 0.1 cm Fine Art Drawings - 15.7 x 11.8 x 0 inch
$477
Chardons
Doïna Vieru
Fine Art Drawings - 40 x 30 x 0.1 cm Fine Art Drawings - 15.7 x 11.8 x 0 inch
$477
Chardons
Doïna Vieru
Fine Art Drawings - 40 x 30 x 0.1 cm Fine Art Drawings - 15.7 x 11.8 x 0 inch
$477
Chardons
Doïna Vieru
Fine Art Drawings - 40 x 30 x 0.1 cm Fine Art Drawings - 15.7 x 11.8 x 0 inch
$477
Chardons
Doïna Vieru
Fine Art Drawings - 40 x 30 x 0.1 cm Fine Art Drawings - 15.7 x 11.8 x 0 inch
$477
Chardons
Doïna Vieru
Fine Art Drawings - 40 x 30 x 0.1 cm Fine Art Drawings - 15.7 x 11.8 x 0 inch
$477
Diaquarelle n°110
Stéphane Belzère
Fine Art Drawings - 40 x 40 x 1 cm Fine Art Drawings - 15.7 x 15.7 x 0.4 inch
$1,192
Diaquarelle n°142
Stéphane Belzère
Fine Art Drawings - 50 x 50 x 1 cm Fine Art Drawings - 19.7 x 19.7 x 0.4 inch
$1,609
Diaquarelle n°11
Stéphane Belzère
Fine Art Drawings - 40 x 40 x 1 cm Fine Art Drawings - 15.7 x 15.7 x 0.4 inch
$1,192
Conflict
Mino Maccari
Fine Art Drawings - 21 x 29 x 0.3 cm Fine Art Drawings - 8.3 x 11.4 x 0.1 inch
$477
Something is happening
Yuliy Takov
Painting - 24 x 26 x 0.2 cm Painting - 9.4 x 10.2 x 0.1 inch
$1,091
Dryad
Slav Nedev
Fine Art Drawings - 27 x 23 x 0.2 cm Fine Art Drawings - 10.6 x 9.1 x 0.1 inch
$525
Deep Waters
Slav Nedev
Fine Art Drawings - 27 x 23 x 0.2 cm Fine Art Drawings - 10.6 x 9.1 x 0.1 inch
$525
Deep Forest
Slav Nedev
Fine Art Drawings - 27 x 23 x 0.2 cm Fine Art Drawings - 10.6 x 9.1 x 0.1 inch
$525
L'oiseau très ailé
Arnaud Dromigny
Painting - 29.7 x 42 x 2 cm Painting - 11.7 x 16.5 x 0.8 inch
$578
L'homme au masque de fer
Marcoleptique
Fine Art Drawings - 35 x 27 cm Fine Art Drawings - 13.8 x 10.6 inch
$656
La Chimère de St Germain
Marcoleptique
Fine Art Drawings - 27 x 35 cm Fine Art Drawings - 10.6 x 13.8 inch
$656
In a forest fairy tale
Vitaly Duhnevich
Painting - 36 x 48 x 2 cm Painting - 14.2 x 18.9 x 0.8 inch
$381
Views of city street
Vitaly Duhnevich
Painting - 48 x 28 x 2 cm Painting - 18.9 x 11 x 0.8 inch
$250
Lake in the mountains
Vitaly Duhnevich
Painting - 20 x 41 x 2 cm Painting - 7.9 x 16.1 x 0.8 inch
$232
After the winter snowstorm
Vitaly Duhnevich
Painting - 20 x 29 x 2 cm Painting - 7.9 x 11.4 x 0.8 inch
$262
In the snowy forest
Vitaly Duhnevich
Painting - 26 x 19 x 2 cm Painting - 10.2 x 7.5 x 0.8 inch
$262
Red clouds over the forest
Vitaly Duhnevich
Painting - 38 x 25 x 2 cm Painting - 15 x 9.8 x 0.8 inch
$268
Flowering tree in the lake
Vitaly Duhnevich
Painting - 44 x 32 x 2 cm Painting - 17.3 x 12.6 x 0.8 inch
$364
The forest was covered with snow
Vitaly Duhnevich
Painting - 30 x 43 x 2 cm Painting - 11.8 x 16.9 x 0.8 inch
$268
Walk through the meadows
Vitaly Duhnevich
Painting - 36 x 40 x 2 cm Painting - 14.2 x 15.7 x 0.8 inch
$262
River in the autumn forest
Vitaly Duhnevich
Painting - 41 x 30 x 2 cm Painting - 16.1 x 11.8 x 0.8 inch
$298
Covered with dark clouds
Vitaly Duhnevich
Painting - 31 x 47 x 2 cm Painting - 12.2 x 18.5 x 0.8 inch
$316
Partir à la plage - scène de plage - série paysage marin
Gabrielle
Painting - 37 x 13 x 0.2 cm Painting - 14.6 x 5.1 x 0.1 inch
$519