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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Red pink water
Cristina Fontsare
Photography - 30 x 40 x 0.1 cm Photography - 11.8 x 15.7 x 0 inch
$715
Mademoiselle
Martine Lingelser-Schmidt
Sculpture - 36 x 23 x 7 cm Sculpture - 14.2 x 9.1 x 2.8 inch
$1,431
Danseurs
Martine Lingelser-Schmidt
Sculpture - 28 x 14 x 12 cm Sculpture - 11 x 5.5 x 4.7 inch
$1,192
Red Lisa #13
Laurent Anastay-Ponsolle
Painting - 46 x 38 x 0.1 cm Painting - 18.1 x 15 x 0 inch
$775
XVI From The Red Series
Megha Joshi
Painting - 29.7 x 21.1 x 0.3 cm Painting - 11.7 x 8.3 x 0.1 inch
$1,200
Dance of the Unruly Pullover
Gregg Friedberg
Photography - 35.6 x 30.5 cm Photography - 14 x 12 inch
$894
XIV and XV Diptych. From The Red Series
Megha Joshi
Painting - 29.7 x 42.2 x 0.3 cm Painting - 11.7 x 16.6 x 0.1 inch
$2,400
Juliette
Guy Delaroque
Fine Art Drawings - 30 x 50 x 0.3 cm Fine Art Drawings - 11.8 x 19.7 x 0.1 inch
$834
Alice
Guy Delaroque
Fine Art Drawings - 30 x 50 x 0.3 cm Fine Art Drawings - 11.8 x 19.7 x 0.1 inch
$834
Salamba Cabaret
Merry Kerpitchian (Merry K)
Sculpture - 45 x 32 x 17 cm Sculpture - 17.7 x 12.6 x 6.7 inch
$2,205
In my web
Rossella Mercedes
Fine Art Drawings - 42 x 29.7 x 0.1 cm Fine Art Drawings - 16.5 x 11.7 x 0 inch
$358
Treno
Rossella Mercedes
Fine Art Drawings - 42 x 29.7 x 0.1 cm Fine Art Drawings - 16.5 x 11.7 x 0 inch
$358
Puppet
Rossella Mercedes
Fine Art Drawings - 42 x 29.7 x 0.1 cm Fine Art Drawings - 16.5 x 11.7 x 0 inch
$358
Sans titre
Bruce Tchibozo
Fine Art Drawings - 32.5 x 50 cm Fine Art Drawings - 12.8 x 19.7 inch
$715
Field of love
Rossella Mercedes
Fine Art Drawings - 29 x 42 x 0.1 cm Fine Art Drawings - 11.4 x 16.5 x 0 inch
$393
Réflexion - série corps de femme nu
Chantal Molinié Jonquet
Sculpture - 26 x 15 x 25 cm Sculpture - 10.2 x 5.9 x 9.8 inch
$3,725
Ce plaisir est le mien (2)
Reno
Sculpture - 22 x 26 x 15 cm Sculpture - 8.7 x 10.2 x 5.9 inch
$1,180
Aluminum figurine of a woman
Ohad Ben-Ayala
Sculpture - 29 x 7 x 6 cm Sculpture - 11.4 x 2.8 x 2.4 inch
$2,146
N°22011 Hommes Taureaux Etude 1
Capton
Painting - 40 x 30 x 0.3 cm Painting - 15.7 x 11.8 x 0.1 inch
$238
Ondine série corps de femme
Chantal Molinié Jonquet
Sculpture - 11 x 48 x 21 cm Sculpture - 4.3 x 18.9 x 8.3 inch
$4,721
Désinvolte série corps de femme
Chantal Molinié Jonquet
Sculpture - 44 x 19 x 29 cm Sculpture - 17.3 x 7.5 x 11.4 inch
$5,484
La conquérante série corps de femme
Chantal Molinié Jonquet
Sculpture - 33 x 45 x 20 cm Sculpture - 13 x 17.7 x 7.9 inch
$5,365
Some girls #11
Gwendoline Hausermann
Fine Art Drawings - 44 x 32 cm Fine Art Drawings - 17.3 x 12.6 inch
$1,073
La fille au bord de l'eau
Olena Siniuhina
Painting - 50 x 48 x 2 cm Painting - 19.7 x 18.9 x 0.8 inch
$346
La danseuse de cabaret assise
Patricia Grangier
Sculpture - 30 x 10 x 20 cm Sculpture - 11.8 x 3.9 x 7.9 inch
$3,576
La danseuse de cabaret assise
Patricia Grangier
Sculpture - 30 x 10 x 20 cm Sculpture - 11.8 x 3.9 x 7.9 inch
$3,576
Sensuelle - série sculpture corps de femme
Chantal Nottrelet
Sculpture - 40 x 27 x 26 cm Sculpture - 15.7 x 10.6 x 10.2 inch
$978
La Danse de l’Amour
Nina Khemchyan
Sculpture - 44 x 44 x 24.5 cm Sculpture - 17.3 x 17.3 x 9.6 inch
$9,418
Guerrero herido
Amancio Gonzalez
Sculpture - 29.5 x 48.5 x 31 cm Sculpture - 11.6 x 19.1 x 12.2 inch
$6,080
Emmeline and the butterfly
Ottelien Huckin
Painting - 32 x 24 x 1 cm Painting - 12.6 x 9.4 x 0.4 inch
$1,058
Classic Torso
Aloyzas Smilingis
Sculpture - 34 x 22 x 16 cm Sculpture - 13.4 x 8.7 x 6.3 inch
$10,729
Cool and Reclined
Christian Frederiksen
Fine Art Drawings - 22 x 30 x 0.2 cm Fine Art Drawings - 8.7 x 11.8 x 0.1 inch
$1,061
N°22013 Hommes Taureaux Etude 3
Capton
Painting - 40 x 30 x 0.3 cm Painting - 15.7 x 11.8 x 0.1 inch
$238
On the wave of my soul
Olena Kishkurno
Painting - 35 x 40 x 2 cm Painting - 13.8 x 15.7 x 0.8 inch
$477
I`ll call you in the midnight
Olena Kishkurno
Painting - 35 x 40 x 2 cm Painting - 13.8 x 15.7 x 0.8 inch
$477
