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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NAOR - 30cm Teddy Ferrari Tribute
Naor
Sculpture - 30 x 25 x 15 cm Sculpture - 11.8 x 9.8 x 5.9 inch
$1,371
Cérémonie d'ouverture des Jeux Olympiques de Paris
François Boisrond
Print - 21 x 27 x 0.2 cm Print - 8.3 x 10.6 x 0.1 inch
$417
40cm Collage, LV Marilyn Tribute Teddy
Naor
Sculpture - 40 x 33 x 26 cm Sculpture - 15.7 x 13 x 10.2 inch
$1,907
30cm teddy H Tribute No Collar
Naor
Sculpture - 30 x 30 x 9 cm Sculpture - 11.8 x 11.8 x 3.5 inch
$1,371
My French Bulldog likes Campbell's soup
Patrick Cornée
Painting - 40 x 40 x 3 cm Painting - 15.7 x 15.7 x 1.2 inch
$1,073 $966
Bearbrick Kaws Dissected 400% Grey
Bearbrick
Design - 28 x 13 x 9 cm Design - 11 x 5.1 x 3.5 inch
$2,384
Boutique éphémère à Nice
Richard Orlinski
Print - 30 x 30 x 0.1 cm Print - 11.8 x 11.8 x 0 inch
$775
Machine - Mesnager X Nora
Jérôme Mesnager
Painting - 30 x 21 x 7 cm Painting - 11.8 x 8.3 x 2.8 inch
$1,669
Post-punk flower (Red) Letterpress
Shepard Fairey (Obey)
Print - 45.72 x 30.48 x 0.2 cm Print - 18 x 12 x 0.1 inch
$566
Golden Hand Mask Sculpture
Dervis Akdemir
Sculpture - 31 x 9 x 6 cm Sculpture - 12.2 x 3.5 x 2.4 inch
$155
Round and Round, the World Spins
Takashi Murakami
Print - 48 x 48 x 0.2 cm Print - 18.9 x 18.9 x 0.1 inch
$8,775
Coussin Circle Teeth Original Fake
Kaws
Design - 45 x 33 x 10 cm Design - 17.7 x 13 x 3.9 inch
$2,027
Robert Hebert Percy. From the Art, culture & society series
Manuel Santelices
Painting - 35.6 x 27.9 x 0.3 cm Painting - 14 x 11 x 0.1 inch
$1,200
Pomme Karl F1
Virginia Benedicto
Sculpture - 30 x 30 x 30 cm Sculpture - 11.8 x 11.8 x 11.8 inch
$2,265
Earing Girl & Basquiat
Dervis Akdemir
Sculpture - 50 x 46 x 32 cm Sculpture - 19.7 x 18.1 x 12.6 inch
$1,905
Lighted Medusa Neon Design
Dervis Akdemir
Sculpture - 50 x 25 x 25 cm Sculpture - 19.7 x 9.8 x 9.8 inch
$1,058
Mono Lisa in Pop Art Life
Dervis Akdemir
Sculpture - 50 x 35 x 25 cm Sculpture - 19.7 x 13.8 x 9.8 inch
$1,764
Piaf PopArt (Large)
Valerie Marty
Sculpture - 32 x 16 x 23 cm Sculpture - 12.6 x 6.3 x 9.1 inch
$2,086
One Dollar Miami Sky
Karl Lagasse
Sculpture - 17 x 39 x 1 cm Sculpture - 6.7 x 15.4 x 0.4 inch
$3,800
Le penseur, d'après Rodin
Alben
Sculpture - 37 x 16 x 16 cm Sculpture - 14.6 x 6.3 x 6.3 inch
$4,769
Magnifying glass "Cream"
Shepard Fairey (Obey)
Print - 33 x 25 x 0.2 cm Print - 13 x 9.8 x 0.1 inch
$477
Here comes the sun
Shokkobo Popart
Painting - 50 x 50 x 3.4 cm Painting - 19.7 x 19.7 x 1.3 inch
$1,067
Silver Samurai Cat
Dervis Akdemir
Sculpture - 30 x 19 x 12 cm Sculpture - 11.8 x 7.5 x 4.7 inch
$183
Illuminated David
Dervis Akdemir
Sculpture - 50 x 40 x 20 cm Sculpture - 19.7 x 15.7 x 7.9 inch
$1,016
Zeus Lighted Hand Neon Design
Dervis Akdemir
Sculpture - 50 x 18 x 11 cm Sculpture - 19.7 x 7.1 x 4.3 inch
$917
Simply Spring 4
Marian Williams
Painting - 30 x 30 x 0.5 cm Painting - 11.8 x 11.8 x 0.2 inch
$236 $213
Période 11, 8ème jour
Yannick Bouillault
Sculpture - 30 x 22 x 23 cm Sculpture - 11.8 x 8.7 x 9.1 inch
$536
Pop Art Perfection: The Purple Figure
Dervis Akdemir
Sculpture - 37 x 15 x 12 cm Sculpture - 14.6 x 5.9 x 4.7 inch
$423
Boujee Miss America
Dervis Akdemir
Sculpture - 35 x 11 x 13 cm Sculpture - 13.8 x 4.3 x 5.1 inch
$254
