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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Maiko in Kyoto, Cherry Blossoms on Blue
Takashi Murakami
Print - 50 x 50 x 0.1 cm Print - 19.7 x 19.7 x 0 inch
$2,755
Floral Abstract 08.06.21
Viktoria Ganhao
Painting - 50 x 40 x 2 cm Painting - 19.7 x 15.7 x 0.8 inch
$629
Frontispiece from Braque Lithographe
Georges Braque
Print - 34 x 27.5 x 0.1 cm Print - 13.4 x 10.8 x 0 inch
$5,694
La guerre des couleurs
Antoine Josse
Painting - 40 x 40 x 3 cm Painting - 15.7 x 15.7 x 1.2 inch
$1,068
L'intimité - Botanical sceneries
Aurélie Trabaud
Painting - 36 x 26 x 0.1 cm Painting - 14.2 x 10.2 x 0 inch
$652
Campervan seen from the water
Peter de Boer
Painting - 50 x 40 x 2 cm Painting - 19.7 x 15.7 x 0.8 inch
$1,768
Gamin à la lance
Baptiste Laurent
Fine Art Drawings - 50 x 35 x 0.3 cm Fine Art Drawings - 19.7 x 13.8 x 0.1 inch
$1,305
Bouquet of White flowers in a blue vase on red. Still life
Schagen Vita
Painting - 50 x 40 x 1 cm Painting - 19.7 x 15.7 x 0.4 inch
$949
Bouquet of mimosa in a transparent vase by the window.
Schagen Vita
Painting - 50 x 40 x 1 cm Painting - 19.7 x 15.7 x 0.4 inch
$949
Maiko in Kyoto, Cherry Blossoms on Red
Takashi Murakami
Print - 50 x 50 x 0.1 cm Print - 19.7 x 19.7 x 0 inch
$2,755
Landscape du pays nord west de la Chine 8
Li Dongfeng
Painting - 33 x 33 x 1 cm Painting - 13 x 13 x 0.4 inch
$652
Landscape du pays nord west de la Chine 5
Li Dongfeng
Painting - 33 x 33 x 1 cm Painting - 13 x 13 x 0.4 inch
$593
The Soaring of Spirit
Karen Akhikyan
Sculpture - 39 x 18 x 23 cm Sculpture - 15.4 x 7.1 x 9.1 inch
$1,200 $960
Magnolia - Artemis
Poonam Choudhary
Painting - 50.8 x 40.6 x 5.1 cm Painting - 20 x 16 x 2 inch
$600
Alessandro Michele
Manuel Santelices
Painting - 40.6 x 29.8 x 2.5 cm Painting - 16 x 11.75 x 1 inch
$1,200
Floral symphony in color
Natalya Mougenot
Painting - 50 x 50 x 1.5 cm Painting - 19.7 x 19.7 x 0.6 inch
$593 $504
Copy of the picture (Roses in a glass vase) (1919) Edward Vuar
Procach Olesia
Painting - 40 x 50 x 2 cm Painting - 15.7 x 19.7 x 0.8 inch
$718
Melancholy and delight of the extraordinary blooming evening
Vladimir Kolosov
Painting - 40.6 x 50.8 x 2 cm Painting - 16 x 20 x 0.8 inch
$800
Etude with wild flowers
Galya Popova
Painting - 30 x 25 x 0.4 cm Painting - 11.8 x 9.8 x 0.2 inch
$472
Blue pines - Loving trees N°3
Aurélie Trabaud
Painting - 30 x 40 x 0.3 cm Painting - 11.8 x 15.7 x 0.1 inch
$908
Deconstruction
Nagsoul
Fine Art Drawings - 26 x 36 x 3 cm Fine Art Drawings - 10.2 x 14.2 x 1.2 inch
$593
A vase full of Roses
Manuel Santelices
Painting - 30.5 x 22.9 x 0.3 cm Painting - 12 x 9 x 0.1 inch
$800
Orange wild field flowers
Schagen Vita
Painting - 40 x 30 x 0.3 cm Painting - 15.7 x 11.8 x 0.1 inch
$593
Abstract flowers in a vase on black
Schagen Vita
Painting - 50 x 40 x 1 cm Painting - 19.7 x 15.7 x 0.4 inch
$593
Fleur de Lotus
Agnès Tiollier
Fine Art Drawings - 50 x 50 x 1 cm Fine Art Drawings - 19.7 x 19.7 x 0.4 inch
$949
Deep Blue Green Flowers
Priscilla Vettese
Painting - 24 x 32 x 2 cm Painting - 9.4 x 12.6 x 0.8 inch
$142 $114
Couronne Solaire
Priscilla Vettese
Painting - 30 x 30 x 0.3 cm Painting - 11.8 x 11.8 x 0.1 inch
$95
Battement vital… (Expression libre)
Olivier Messas
Painting - 40 x 40 x 7 cm Painting - 15.7 x 15.7 x 2.8 inch
$1,424
Hexa Flowery Audrey
Priscilla Vettese
Painting - 40 x 40 x 2 cm Painting - 15.7 x 15.7 x 0.8 inch
$569
Rêverie... (Souvenirs du sud)
Olivier Messas
Painting - 40 x 30 x 2 cm Painting - 15.7 x 11.8 x 0.8 inch
$830
Live in my soul 2
Poonam Choudhary
Painting - 50.8 x 40.6 x 3.8 cm Painting - 20 x 16 x 1.5 inch
$500
Si trova un'unica. Quasi sono
Saverio Filioli Uranio
Painting - 38 x 29 x 8 cm Painting - 15 x 11.4 x 3.1 inch
$652
Vingt-quatre premiers sonnets de Shakespeare dans la traduction de Yves Bonnefoy n°368
Zao Wou-Ki
Print - 35 x 28 cm Print - 13.8 x 11 inch
$4,508
La douceur d'Aix en Provence
Sophie Petetin
Painting - 40 x 40 x 2 cm Painting - 15.7 x 15.7 x 0.8 inch
$771
Sea Wrack
Lorna Holdcroft - Kirin
Painting - 50 x 50 x 4 cm Painting - 19.7 x 19.7 x 1.6 inch
$1,406
Frangipani in bliss
Sumit Mehndiratta
Painting - 29 x 41 x 3 cm Painting - 11.4 x 16.1 x 1.2 inch
$1,424
Duo... (Jardin secret)
Olivier Messas
Painting - 40 x 40 x 1 cm Painting - 15.7 x 15.7 x 0.4 inch
$1,068