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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Untitled (PEN 04)
Atom Hovhanesyan
Fine Art Drawings - 45.7 x 40.6 x 0.05 cm Fine Art Drawings - 18 x 16 x 0 inch
$80,000
Les chemins du silence n°2 - série Paysage et forêt
Ursula Durr-Land
Painting - 50 x 50 x 4 cm Painting - 19.7 x 19.7 x 1.6 inch
$676
Soleil, Mer Et Poissons
Mercedes Aparicio
Painting - 35 x 35 x 1.7 cm Painting - 13.8 x 13.8 x 0.7 inch
$2,847
Verdolini il Celebre Masseur
Nicola Simbari
Fine Art Drawings - 30 x 22.5 x 0.1 cm Fine Art Drawings - 11.8 x 8.9 x 0 inch
$890
When Boys Become Men
Roberto Fernando Salmon
Painting - 40.5 x 32 x 2.4 cm Painting - 15.9 x 12.6 x 0.9 inch
$593
Léviathan
Catherine Clare
Fine Art Drawings - 30 x 42 x 0.1 cm Fine Art Drawings - 11.8 x 16.5 x 0 inch
$712 $641
Etude
Gilbert Pastor
Fine Art Drawings - 10 x 32 x 0.1 cm Fine Art Drawings - 3.9 x 12.6 x 0 inch
$593
Fossile
Xavier Albert Fiala
Fine Art Drawings - 36.5 x 23 x 0.3 cm Fine Art Drawings - 14.4 x 9.1 x 0.1 inch
$736
Series The Image Of Mountain No.1
Bao-Hua Dang
Painting - 40 x 40 x 4 cm Painting - 15.7 x 15.7 x 1.6 inch
$1,068
Cubos Transparencia 2 (Framed)
Rodrigo Spinel
Fine Art Drawings - 25 x 35 x 0.3 cm Fine Art Drawings - 9.8 x 13.8 x 0.1 inch
$700
Sans titre (192)
Zwy Milshtein
Fine Art Drawings - 25 x 36 x 0.1 cm Fine Art Drawings - 9.8 x 14.2 x 0 inch
$1,780
Crabe en panier
Ji-Yun
Fine Art Drawings - 42 x 29.7 x 0.3 cm Fine Art Drawings - 16.5 x 11.7 x 0.1 inch
$949
Clouds over the Tay Rail Bridge
Alastair Faulkner
Painting - 35 x 45 x 5 cm Painting - 13.8 x 17.7 x 2 inch
$2,017
Orografia 8
Josep María Codina
Fine Art Drawings - 30 x 40 x 5 cm Fine Art Drawings - 11.8 x 15.7 x 2 inch
$949
El grupo (Colección La Bolsa Mágica)
Sonja H Lukenic
Photography - 29.7 x 21 x 0.1 cm Photography - 11.7 x 8.3 x 0 inch
$1,068
África tribal VII
José Manuel Velasco
Painting - 50 x 50 x 2 cm Painting - 19.7 x 19.7 x 0.8 inch
$1,542
Readers series - Philosophy of money
Nikolaus von Wolff
Print - 50 x 50 x 0.1 cm Print - 19.7 x 19.7 x 0 inch
$949
The Chair, Painting, Acrylic on Canvas
Nicole Daniah Sidonie
Painting - 36.1 x 36.1 x 0.3 cm Painting - 14.2 x 14.2 x 0.1 inch
$703
Black Sea Beach
Giorgi Kukhalashvili
Fine Art Drawings - 30 x 41.5 x 0.1 cm Fine Art Drawings - 11.8 x 16.3 x 0 inch
$3,322
06 - 16 - 1961 - Lobby Cards Series - Red
Pierre-Emmanuel Chatiliez
Print - 39 x 50 cm Print - 15.4 x 19.7 inch
$830
Heads - Ian (Cutout Sculpture)
Julian Opie
Sculpture - 35.8 x 33.9 x 10 cm Sculpture - 14.1 x 13.3 x 3.9 inch
$13,050
Oris 4 (série de 40 têtes)
Kevin-Ademola Sangosanya
Painting - 49 x 33 cm Painting - 19.3 x 13 inch
$1,780
Venise de Chine Suzhou Chinese Venise 1986
Wu Biduan
Print - 32 x 25 cm Print - 12.6 x 9.8 inch
$1,174
Gardien de chevaux 1987 Horses Guardian
Guang Jun
Print - 25 x 32.5 cm Print - 9.8 x 12.8 inch
$1,174
Enfants sur soupe Campbell
Haim Zanzouri
Painting - 36 x 16 x 2 cm Painting - 14.2 x 6.3 x 0.8 inch
$603
The moon is generous
Galia Chuntova
Painting - 35 x 35 x 2 cm Painting - 13.8 x 13.8 x 0.8 inch
$890
#Paysage sauvage #2
Niki Neuts
Fine Art Drawings - 30 x 40 cm Fine Art Drawings - 11.8 x 15.7 inch
$712
L’herbe des Corbières
Anna Camille
Fine Art Drawings - 30 x 42 x 1 cm Fine Art Drawings - 11.8 x 16.5 x 0.4 inch
$830
Summer Watercolor 1
Viktoria Ganhao
Fine Art Drawings - 30 x 40 x 0.2 cm Fine Art Drawings - 11.8 x 15.7 x 0.1 inch
$249
White CH Tribute Candy
Julie Jaler
Sculpture - 40 x 20 x 20 cm Sculpture - 15.7 x 7.9 x 7.9 inch
$830
The Pop Vibe Of Fashion I
Alejandro Moretti
Sculpture - 40 x 29 x 12.5 cm Sculpture - 15.7 x 11.4 x 4.9 inch
$712 $356
