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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Amy Winehouse, do it with style
Patrick Cornée
Painting - 50 x 50 x 3 cm Painting - 19.7 x 19.7 x 1.2 inch
€1,900
Théorèmes #1
Nagsoul
Fine Art Drawings - 22 x 32 x 0.1 cm Fine Art Drawings - 8.7 x 12.6 x 0 inch
€800
Résistant
Baptiste Laurent
Fine Art Drawings - 50 x 35 x 0.3 cm Fine Art Drawings - 19.7 x 13.8 x 0.1 inch
€1,100
Cloned Griffon Bruxellois With Pet Bottle
William Sweetlove
Sculpture - 40 x 40 x 18 cm Sculpture - 15.7 x 15.7 x 7.1 inch
€1,400 €1,260
Cloned Griffon Bruxellois with Pet Bottle
William Sweetlove
Sculpture - 40 x 40 x 18 cm Sculpture - 15.7 x 15.7 x 7.1 inch
€1,400 €1,260
Two Tall Figures, Man And Woman (framed hand signed etching)
Henry Moore
Print - 50.8 x 37.8 x 0.3 cm Print - 20 x 14.875 x 0.1 inch
€1,681
Mémoire de JingDeZhen
Feng Hatat
Photography - 30 x 45 x 1 cm Photography - 11.8 x 17.7 x 0.4 inch
€600
Mémoire de JingDeZhen
Feng Hatat
Photography - 32 x 48 x 1 cm Photography - 12.6 x 18.9 x 0.4 inch
€600
Mémoire de JingDeZhen
Feng Hatat
Photography - 32 x 48 x 1 cm Photography - 12.6 x 18.9 x 0.4 inch
€600
Mémoire de JingDeZhen
Feng Hatat
Photography - 32 x 48 x 1 cm Photography - 12.6 x 18.9 x 0.4 inch
€600
Café Renoir - Botanical sceneries
Aurélie Trabaud
Painting - 40 x 30 x 1.5 cm Painting - 15.7 x 11.8 x 0.6 inch
€750 €675
Ethereal Dawn II
Daniela Pasqualini
Painting - 35.6 x 27.9 x 2.5 cm Painting - 14 x 11 x 1 inch
€457 €366
Deconstruction
Nagsoul
Fine Art Drawings - 26 x 36 x 3 cm Fine Art Drawings - 10.2 x 14.2 x 1.2 inch
€500
Elephants...in a colorful world
Jean-Philippe Berger
Painting - 50 x 50 x 1 cm Painting - 19.7 x 19.7 x 0.4 inch
Sold
Break out of the bonds
Karen Akhikyan
Sculpture - 44 x 34 x 31 cm Sculpture - 17.3 x 13.4 x 12.2 inch
€1,235
Two Souls, One Space
Mariah Birsak
Painting - 50 x 40 x 2 cm Painting - 19.7 x 15.7 x 0.8 inch
€750 €675
The Beauty of Abstraction I
Gor Avetisyan
Painting - 35 x 48 cm Painting - 13.8 x 18.9 inch
€700 €630
Flacon Chanel n°5, Marilyn et Betty, bleu
Patrick Cornée
Sculpture - 27 x 20 x 6 cm Sculpture - 10.6 x 7.9 x 2.4 inch
€2,900
El Revolucionario
James Sparshatt
Photography - 50 x 50 x 1 cm Photography - 19.7 x 19.7 x 0.4 inch
€986 €888
Projet pour Hennessy
JonOne
Fine Art Drawings - 30 x 42 x 0.1 cm Fine Art Drawings - 11.8 x 16.5 x 0 inch
€2,000
Viento de Oaxaca
Francisco Muñoz Tejeida
Painting - 42 x 48 x 1 cm Painting - 16.5 x 18.9 x 0.4 inch
€556
Chanel n°5 bottle, Miss Chanel
Patrick Cornée
Sculpture - 27 x 20 x 6 cm Sculpture - 10.6 x 7.9 x 2.4 inch
€2,900 €2,610
Flacon Chanel n°5, Marilyn et Betty, rouge
Patrick Cornée
Sculpture - 27 x 20 x 6 cm Sculpture - 10.6 x 7.9 x 2.4 inch
€2,900
Flacon Chanel n°5, Marilyn et Betty, rose
Patrick Cornée
Sculpture - 27 x 20 x 6 cm Sculpture - 10.6 x 7.9 x 2.4 inch
€2,900
Flacon Chanel n°5, Marilyn et Betty, orange
Patrick Cornée
Sculpture - 27 x 20 x 6 cm Sculpture - 10.6 x 7.9 x 2.4 inch
€2,900
A Visual Journey Through History VI
Gor Avetisyan
Painting - 50 x 35 x 0.1 cm Painting - 19.7 x 13.8 x 0 inch
Sold
A Visual Journey Through History IV
Gor Avetisyan
Painting - 50 x 35 x 0.1 cm Painting - 19.7 x 13.8 x 0 inch
Sold
Le liquide rouge II
Yannick Bouillault
Sculpture - 46 x 22 x 24 cm Sculpture - 18.1 x 8.7 x 9.4 inch
€950
Still Cassius Clay V
Gerry Cranham
Photography - 30 x 45 x 0.1 cm Photography - 11.8 x 17.7 x 0 inch
€990