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Zoom R Lichtenstein
Gisèle Zanellato
Painting - 26 x 26 x 2 cm Painting - 10.2 x 10.2 x 0.8 inch
$673
Marilyn Monroe Lips print
Tyler Shields
Photography - 45.7 x 45.7 cm Photography - 18 x 18 inch
$2,500
Self-Portrait 24.67
Arthur Hent
Fine Art Drawings - 32 x 24 x 0.2 cm Fine Art Drawings - 12.6 x 9.4 x 0.1 inch
$337
Circus performance
Seyran Gasparyan
Painting - 45 x 35 x 1 cm Painting - 17.7 x 13.8 x 0.4 inch
$350
Lady with the Pearl Earring meets PopArt
Koen Betjes
Print - 43 x 29 x 2 cm Print - 16.9 x 11.4 x 0.8 inch
$275
Firebird ou hommage a Stravinsky
Françoise Sémiramoth
Painting - 40 x 30 x 1 cm Painting - 15.7 x 11.8 x 0.4 inch
$3,141
You're in the army now
Françoise Sémiramoth
Painting - 40 x 30 x 1 cm Painting - 15.7 x 11.8 x 0.4 inch
$3,141
La jeune fille et son perroquet
Sônia Furtado
Painting - 20 x 30 x 2 cm Painting - 7.9 x 11.8 x 0.8 inch
$1,066
With what strength am I going to continue?
Reinaldo Chavez
Painting - 27.5 x 22 x 0.3 cm Painting - 10.8 x 8.7 x 0.1 inch
$325
Abstract Expression
Giorgio Lo Fermo
Painting - 37 x 27 x 0.5 cm Painting - 14.6 x 10.6 x 0.2 inch
$673
Seated Man
Suzie Bernardeau
Fine Art Drawings - 32 x 24 x 0.1 cm Fine Art Drawings - 12.6 x 9.4 x 0 inch
$449 $359
La Tortue et les Deux Canards II
Katia Kameli
Fine Art Drawings - 40 x 30 x 0.3 cm Fine Art Drawings - 15.7 x 11.8 x 0.1 inch
$6,170
La souris métamorphosé en fille
Katia Kameli
Fine Art Drawings - 40 x 30 x 0.3 cm Fine Art Drawings - 15.7 x 11.8 x 0.1 inch
$6,170
La Tortue et les Deux Canards
Katia Kameli
Fine Art Drawings - 40 x 30 x 0.3 cm Fine Art Drawings - 15.7 x 11.8 x 0.1 inch
$6,170
Les animaux malades de la peste
Katia Kameli
Fine Art Drawings - 40 x 30 x 0.3 cm Fine Art Drawings - 15.7 x 11.8 x 0.1 inch
$6,170
Le Cantique des oiseaux, Le Faucon
Katia Kameli
Sculpture - 33 x 17 x 15 cm Sculpture - 13 x 6.7 x 5.9 inch
$8,975
Le Cantique des oiseaux, Le Perroquet
Katia Kameli
Sculpture - 33 x 15 x 13 cm Sculpture - 13 x 5.9 x 5.1 inch
$6,731
Big Bang sur papier 15
Joëlle Kem Lika
Painting - 50 x 50 x 0.1 cm Painting - 19.7 x 19.7 x 0 inch
$471
Big Bang sur papier 14
Joëlle Kem Lika
Painting - 50 x 50 x 0.1 cm Painting - 19.7 x 19.7 x 0 inch
$471
Le Cantique des oiseaux, Le Paon
Katia Kameli
Sculpture - 33 x 45 x 16 cm Sculpture - 13 x 17.7 x 6.3 inch
$8,975
Reflets sur le Rhône IV
Agnès Tiollier
Fine Art Drawings - 50 x 40 x 0.18 cm Fine Art Drawings - 19.7 x 15.7 x 0.1 inch
$729
Self-Portrait 24.14
Arthur Hent
Fine Art Drawings - 42 x 30 x 0.1 cm Fine Art Drawings - 16.5 x 11.8 x 0 inch
$449
Self-Portrait 24.09
Arthur Hent
Fine Art Drawings - 30 x 21 x 0.1 cm Fine Art Drawings - 11.8 x 8.3 x 0 inch
$224
Paris Mômes "Les oreilles"
Bertrand Desprez
Photography - 50 x 40 x 2.5 cm Photography - 19.7 x 15.7 x 1 inch
$505
Paris Mômes "Les Fleurs"
Bertrand Desprez
Photography - 50 x 40 x 2.5 cm Photography - 19.7 x 15.7 x 1 inch
$505
Gathering
Philip Hearsey
Sculpture - 16 x 27 x 19 cm Sculpture - 6.3 x 10.6 x 7.5 inch
$2,805 $2,384
Drift [C]
Philip Hearsey
Sculpture - 35.5 x 13 x 9.5 cm Sculpture - 14 x 5.1 x 3.7 inch
$2,805 $2,384
Harmonie de Samothrace feu rouge Grand
Miguel Guía
Sculpture - 42 x 22 x 28 cm Sculpture - 16.5 x 8.7 x 11 inch
$1,548
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…