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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Excursionistas
Clotilde.MJ
Photography - 37.11 x 30 x 0.3 cm Photography - 14.6 x 11.8 x 0.1 inch
$456
Farah and the sun
Clotilde.MJ
Photography - 37.02 x 50 x 0.3 cm Photography - 14.6 x 19.7 x 0.1 inch
$550
Red (Hommage to Rembrandt)
Melinda Matyas
Painting - 45.7 x 35.6 x 2 cm Painting - 18 x 14 x 0.8 inch
$1,989
Whatever together
Barbara Petit Lisy
Painting - 27 x 41 x 2 cm Painting - 10.6 x 16.1 x 0.8 inch
$1,032
No57 SPIRIT Series
Yevgeniy Repiashenko
Photography - 50.8 x 50.8 x 0.3 cm Photography - 20 x 20 x 0.1 inch
$918
Nude with red hair
Barbara Kroll
Painting - 49.8 x 39.9 x 2 cm Painting - 19.6 x 15.7 x 0.8 inch
$980
The Couple
Mino Maccari
Fine Art Drawings - 28 x 20.5 x 0.3 cm Fine Art Drawings - 11 x 8.1 x 0.1 inch
$866
Danseuse auréolée
Arnaud Baumann
Photography - 45 x 30 x 0.1 cm Photography - 17.7 x 11.8 x 0 inch
$1,111
Golden beauty David
Dervis Akdemir
Sculpture - 44 x 25 x 14 cm Sculpture - 17.3 x 9.8 x 5.5 inch
$250
Sculpture de Vénus
Natalie Shiporina
Painting - 50 x 40 x 2 cm Painting - 19.7 x 15.7 x 0.8 inch
$1,755
Sin título (Identity Assertions Series)
Imanol Marrodán
Photography - 20 x 40 x 0.1 cm Photography - 7.9 x 15.7 x 0 inch
$702
Nu - Raphaelle
Aurélie Trabaud
Fine Art Drawings - 29 x 42 x 0.1 cm Fine Art Drawings - 11.4 x 16.5 x 0 inch
$94
Kira's Tattoo
Richard Dunkley
Photography - 50.8 x 40.6 x 1.3 cm Photography - 20 x 16 x 0.5 inch
$348
Risque 24-03-22
Corné Akkers
Fine Art Drawings - 21.1 x 29.7 x 0.3 cm Fine Art Drawings - 8.3 x 11.7 x 0.1 inch
$1,622
I-Type
Noa Grayevsky
Photography - 43.35 x 35.75 x 0.5 cm Photography - 17.1 x 14.1 x 0.2 inch
$1,755
Théa sur cube 2
Sylvie Bourely
Sculpture - 44 x 41 x 12 cm Sculpture - 17.3 x 16.1 x 4.7 inch
$3,276
N° 706 Nymphette 2.
R. Cavalié
Fine Art Drawings - 38 x 44 x 0.2 cm Fine Art Drawings - 15 x 17.3 x 0.1 inch
$211
The Plainness of the Pre-Baroque
Douglas Ross
Photography - 50.8 x 40.6 cm Photography - 20 x 16 inch
$1,141
L'attente - Hotel Métropole Bruxelles
Michel Pinel
Photography - 40 x 30 cm Photography - 15.7 x 11.8 inch
$339
N° 758 Novelette
R. Cavalié
Fine Art Drawings - 43 x 35 x 0.2 cm Fine Art Drawings - 16.9 x 13.8 x 0.1 inch
$211
N° 757 Ondine.
R. Cavalié
Fine Art Drawings - 49 x 39 x 0.2 cm Fine Art Drawings - 19.3 x 15.4 x 0.1 inch
$187
In the city 1 (Je me dessine)
Élisabeth Gineste (Sitelle)
Painting - 50 x 50 x 2 cm Painting - 19.7 x 19.7 x 0.8 inch
$386
Le baptême de nuit, je cherche juste à être en vie
Lili Chomat
Photography - 42 x 29.7 x 0.2 cm Photography - 16.5 x 11.7 x 0.1 inch
$351
Everything is illuminated
Galya Popova
Painting - 40 x 30 x 2 cm Painting - 15.7 x 11.8 x 0.8 inch
Sold
Enigmatic vision - The eye of David 1/1
Dervis Akdemir
Sculpture - 42 x 25 x 15 cm Sculpture - 16.5 x 9.8 x 5.9 inch
Sold
Symphonic resonance - Beethoven's harmonic odyssey 1/1
Dervis Akdemir
Sculpture - 43 x 25 x 16 cm Sculpture - 16.9 x 9.8 x 6.3 inch
Sold
We are the Square Jocular Clan (5)
Takashi Murakami
Print - 50 x 50 x 0.1 cm Print - 19.7 x 19.7 x 0 inch
Sold
