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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Femme feuille
Salfo Dermé (Yabré)
Sculpture - 30 x 17 x 11 cm Sculpture - 11.8 x 6.7 x 4.3 inch
$1,387
Fille en ballon dollar
Miguel Guía
Sculpture - 32 x 18 x 6 cm Sculpture - 12.6 x 7.1 x 2.4 inch
$1,133
Model in Margiela
Manuel Santelices
Painting - 40.6 x 30.5 x 0.3 cm Painting - 16 x 12 x 0.1 inch
$700
Menina Air et Métal Nickel Bleu
Miguel Guía
Sculpture - 40 x 21 x 37 cm Sculpture - 15.7 x 8.3 x 14.6 inch
$1,826
Portrait of a girl with yellow patches
Galya Popova
Painting - 40 x 30 x 2 cm Painting - 15.7 x 11.8 x 0.8 inch
$925
L'avenir est technologique
Miguel Guía
Sculpture - 40 x 14 x 10 cm Sculpture - 15.7 x 5.5 x 3.9 inch
$1,526
Le pouvoir d’un câlin
Miguel Guía
Sculpture - 35 x 12 x 12 cm Sculpture - 13.8 x 4.7 x 4.7 inch
$1,087
Reflexion Bleu bronze
Miguel Guía
Sculpture - 33 x 14 x 17 cm Sculpture - 13 x 5.5 x 6.7 inch
$1,087
Maud - Abstrait nu N°9
Aurélie Trabaud
Painting - 40 x 30 x 1 cm Painting - 15.7 x 11.8 x 0.4 inch
$1,098
Synthèse fille avec ballon rouge
Miguel Guía
Sculpture - 35 x 6 x 16 cm Sculpture - 13.8 x 2.4 x 6.3 inch
$1,133
Zidane but Colonne inspiration Antony Gormley
Miguel Guía
Sculpture - 37 x 9 x 18 cm Sculpture - 14.6 x 3.5 x 7.1 inch
$1,029
Visage cubiste rouge
Miguel Guía
Sculpture - 34 x 9.5 x 17 cm Sculpture - 13.4 x 3.7 x 6.7 inch
$1,318
Nous sommes une énigme feu rouge
Miguel Guía
Sculpture - 28 x 11 x 7.5 cm Sculpture - 11 x 4.3 x 3 inch
$1,468
Nous sommes une énigme Nickel
Miguel Guía
Sculpture - 28 x 11 x 7.5 cm Sculpture - 11 x 4.3 x 3 inch
$1,468
Nous sommes la littérature
Miguel Guía
Sculpture - 39.5 x 11.5 x 10 cm Sculpture - 15.6 x 4.5 x 3.9 inch
$1,468
Guitariste arlequin grand feu rouge
Miguel Guía
Sculpture - 34.5 x 21.5 x 17.5 cm Sculpture - 13.6 x 8.5 x 6.9 inch
$1,607
N’arrête jamais de m’étreindre
Miguel Guía
Sculpture - 34 x 12 x 12 cm Sculpture - 13.4 x 4.7 x 4.7 inch
$1,087
Essence de la jeunesse mâle rougeâtre ou feu
Miguel Guía
Sculpture - 38.5 x 14 x 11.5 cm Sculpture - 15.2 x 5.5 x 4.5 inch
$1,318
![Sculpture, La famille heureuse... "Bonheur" [ version : marron ] (Histoire de famille 2021), Olivier Messas](https://media.artsper.com/artwork/1548642_1_grid.jpg)
La famille heureuse... "Bonheur" [ version : marron ] (Histoire de famille 2021)
Olivier Messas
Sculpture - 34 x 30 x 8 cm Sculpture - 13.4 x 11.8 x 3.1 inch
$4,855
Afrocentric (Dance Floor Riot)
Shepard Fairey (Obey)
Print - 30 x 30 x 1 cm Print - 11.8 x 11.8 x 0.4 inch
$578
Gol Zidane ganador inspiración Antony Gormley
Miguel Guía
Sculpture - 43 x 35 x 19 cm Sculpture - 16.9 x 13.8 x 7.5 inch
$3,699
The Woman Who Defeated Pain (Frida Kahlo) Letterpress
Shepard Fairey (Obey)
Print - 35.56 x 27.94 x 0.2 cm Print - 14 x 11 x 0.1 inch
$578
Bloom of Consciousness
Dasha Pogodina
Painting - 50 x 40 x 2 cm Painting - 19.7 x 15.7 x 0.8 inch
$578
Universal dignity letterpress
Shepard Fairey (Obey)
Print - 49.53 x 38.1 x 0.1 cm Print - 19.5 x 15 x 0 inch
$578
Sid in tune with discord
Shepard Fairey (Obey)
Print - 48 x 37 x 0.1 cm Print - 18.9 x 14.6 x 0 inch
$694
Bob Marley 40th (Set of 3: Confrontation, Soul Rebel, Lively Up Yourself)
Shepard Fairey (Obey)
Print - 49.53 x 41.91 x 0.2 cm Print - 19.5 x 16.5 x 0.1 inch
$867
Tant qu'il y aura des fleurs
David Jamin
Painting - 30 x 30 x 2.5 cm Painting - 11.8 x 11.8 x 1 inch
$774
The Fragile Balance
Karen Akhikyan
Sculpture - 49 x 24 x 11 cm Sculpture - 19.3 x 9.4 x 4.3 inch
$2,100 $1,785
Vanishing Words
Karen Akhikyan
Sculpture - 46 x 18 x 16 cm Sculpture - 18.1 x 7.1 x 6.3 inch
$1,650 $1,320
Getting at the Heart & Eve in Repose. From the Behind Closed Doors Series
Alex Hodge
Sculpture - 35.6 x 21.6 x 0.6 cm Sculpture - 14 x 8.5 x 0.25 inch
$800
Dreaming in Technicolor & Melancholy Remedy
Alex Hodge
Sculpture - 21 x 41.3 x 0.6 cm Sculpture - 8.25 x 16.25 x 0.25 inch
$800
Drifting (Papyrus)
tizlu
Fine Art Drawings - 34 x 25 x 0.1 cm Fine Art Drawings - 13.4 x 9.8 x 0 inch
$1,017
La jeune fille pressée
Salfo Dermé (Yabré)
Sculpture - 36 x 24 x 14 cm Sculpture - 14.2 x 9.4 x 5.5 inch
$1,734
Synthèse enfant avec ballon
Miguel Guía
Sculpture - 35 x 16 x 6 cm Sculpture - 13.8 x 6.3 x 2.4 inch
$1,133
Édition Le regard de David 30
Miguel Guía
Print - 32 x 30 x 0.3 cm Print - 12.6 x 11.8 x 0.1 inch
$439
Enfant avec ballon magique rouge 34
Miguel Guía
Sculpture - 34 x 9.5 x 6 cm Sculpture - 13.4 x 3.7 x 2.4 inch
$994
I'll hold you in my heart woman
Miguel Guía
Sculpture - 40 x 36 x 27 cm Sculpture - 15.7 x 14.2 x 10.6 inch
$8,553
France climatique
Clara Castagné
Fine Art Drawings - 45 x 35 x 2 cm Fine Art Drawings - 17.7 x 13.8 x 0.8 inch
$925
Styles Change - Style Endures - Black
Shepard Fairey (Obey)
Print - 48.26 x 36.83 x 0.2 cm Print - 19 x 14.5 x 0.1 inch
$694
Diptych Lock and Key, Rattling Cages, Carved Porcelain Decorative Plates
Alex Hodge
Sculpture - 25.4 x 50.8 x 2.5 cm Sculpture - 10 x 20 x 1 inch
$990
Hombre de la Luna
James Sparshatt
Photography - 50 x 50 x 1 cm Photography - 19.7 x 19.7 x 0.4 inch
$817
Arrow mustard and navy
Shepard Fairey (Obey)
Print - 33.02 x 25.4 x 0.2 cm Print - 13 x 10 x 0.1 inch
$636