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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Mirrors of Memory
Harutyun Aghajanyan
Painting - 50 x 50 x 2 cm Painting - 19.7 x 19.7 x 0.8 inch
$600
The Art of Conversation with Marry Poppins
Onemizer
Painting - 35 x 35 x 2 cm Painting - 13.8 x 13.8 x 0.8 inch
$2,086
En solitaire... (Esprit Voile)
Olivier Messas
Painting - 50 x 40 x 2 cm Painting - 19.7 x 15.7 x 0.8 inch
$1,192
The Missing Link
Lieven D'Haese
Sculpture - 49 x 28 x 35 cm Sculpture - 19.3 x 11 x 13.8 inch
$7,987
The Sky Is Burning - Size M
Brooke Shaden
Photography - 50 x 50 x 0.1 cm Photography - 19.7 x 19.7 x 0 inch
$2,861
Landscape
Wissam Beydoun
Fine Art Drawings - 35 x 25 x 2.5 cm Fine Art Drawings - 13.8 x 9.8 x 1 inch
$650
Marc Jacobs fall 2020
Manuel Santelices
Painting - 30.5 x 22.9 x 0.3 cm Painting - 12 x 9 x 0.1 inch
$700
Alessandro Michelle yellow
Manuel Santelices
Painting - 30.5 x 22.9 x 0.3 cm Painting - 12 x 9 x 0.1 inch
$700
Amal, George Clooney and Julia Roberts
Manuel Santelices
Painting - 22.9 x 30.5 x 0.3 cm Painting - 9 x 12 x 0.1 inch
$600
Orince Eagle (After a Photograph by Elizabeth Peyton)
Manuel Santelices
Painting - 30.5 x 22.9 x 0.3 cm Painting - 12 x 9 x 0.1 inch
$600
Pierpaolo Piccioli for Moncler
Manuel Santelices
Painting - 38.1 x 27.9 cm Painting - 15 x 11 inch
$700
Prada Bag Ladies
Manuel Santelices
Painting - 30.5 x 22.9 x 0.3 cm Painting - 12 x 9 x 0.1 inch
$700
Energy of Sunrise...
Olivier Messas
Painting - 50 x 50 x 2 cm Painting - 19.7 x 19.7 x 0.8 inch
$1,907
Prendre son envol...
Olivier Messas
Painting - 50 x 50 x 2 cm Painting - 19.7 x 19.7 x 0.8 inch
$1,907
Illuminated Green -Sculpture with Lampshade
Dervis Akdemir
Sculpture - 46 x 15 x 13 cm Sculpture - 18.1 x 5.9 x 5.1 inch
$847
Illuminated Grey Sculpture with Lampshade
Dervis Akdemir
Sculpture - 46 x 15 x 12 cm Sculpture - 18.1 x 5.9 x 4.7 inch
$847
Scène d'intérieur (B. 74; Ba. 241; Mourlot XXI)
Pablo Picasso
Print - 33.02 x 49.21 x 1 cm Print - 13 x 19.4 x 0.4 inch
$18,500
Magic Game, no. VI/VIII
Joanna Zakrzewska-Cholewa
Sculpture - 43 x 15 x 6 cm Sculpture - 16.9 x 5.9 x 2.4 inch
$2,265
Petit Tiens Bon / Small Hold On
Sophie Verger
Sculpture - 15 x 26 x 10.5 cm Sculpture - 5.9 x 10.2 x 4.1 inch
$3,338
On n'est pas là 2
Franck-Bernard Gaulier
Painting - 30 x 40 x 0.6 cm Painting - 11.8 x 15.7 x 0.2 inch
$417
A ballerina black swan (1)
Serghei Ghetiu
Painting - 50 x 30 x 2 cm Painting - 19.7 x 11.8 x 0.8 inch
$596
Long-lived masterpiece
Karen Akhikyan
Sculpture - 22 x 29 x 15 cm Sculpture - 8.7 x 11.4 x 5.9 inch
$1,200 $960
Shattered dream - Iron, Travertine
Karen Akhikyan
Sculpture - 36 x 14 x 16 cm Sculpture - 14.2 x 5.5 x 6.3 inch
$1,200
Fashion for our Future
Manuel Santelices
Fine Art Drawings - 38.1 x 27.9 x 0.3 cm Fine Art Drawings - 15 x 11 x 0.1 inch
$600
In Ralph Lauren in the Hamptons
Manuel Santelices
Fine Art Drawings - 38.1 x 27.9 x 0.3 cm Fine Art Drawings - 15 x 11 x 0.1 inch
$800
Der Rabbi, From Mein Leben
Marc Chagall
Print - 43.18 x 34.29 x 1 cm Print - 17 x 13.5 x 0.4 inch
$9,500
The Bird and the Dreamer
Sargis Zaqaryan
Painting - 50 x 40 x 2 cm Painting - 19.7 x 15.7 x 0.8 inch
$600
Quand les mystères sont très malins II
Yves Brayer
Print - 18 x 30.5 x 0.1 cm Print - 7.1 x 12 x 0 inch
$596
Phoenix
Kane Mclay
Fine Art Drawings - 45 x 35 x 1 cm Fine Art Drawings - 17.7 x 13.8 x 0.4 inch
$703
Cuckoo bird
Galya Popova
Fine Art Drawings - 42 x 29.7 x 0.1 cm Fine Art Drawings - 16.5 x 11.7 x 0 inch
$417
Sardinia. Porto Pollo_7
Galya Popova
Fine Art Drawings - 42 x 29.7 x 0.1 cm Fine Art Drawings - 16.5 x 11.7 x 0 inch
$429