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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Late autumn /wind and rain...
Karl-Karol Chrobok
Painting - 50 x 50 x 2 cm Painting - 19.7 x 19.7 x 0.8 inch
$596
Abandoned village
Volodymyr Pashchenko
Painting - 35 x 40 x 2 cm Painting - 13.8 x 15.7 x 0.8 inch
$715
After the winter snowstorm
Volodymyr Pashchenko
Painting - 35 x 50 x 2 cm Painting - 13.8 x 19.7 x 0.8 inch
$608
In the village
Volodymyr Pashchenko
Painting - 50 x 50 x 2 cm Painting - 19.7 x 19.7 x 0.8 inch
$715
Tamaris en fleurs
Gyslaine Pachet-Micheneau
Painting - 50 x 50 x 2 cm Painting - 19.7 x 19.7 x 0.8 inch
$787
Trèfle incarnat
Gyslaine Pachet-Micheneau
Painting - 33 x 46 x 2 cm Painting - 13 x 18.1 x 0.8 inch
$691
Paysage intérieur
Christine Marie Nobre
Painting - 30 x 30 x 2 cm Painting - 11.8 x 11.8 x 0.8 inch
$680
L'heure bleue 030817
Feng Hatat
Photography - 30 x 45 x 1 cm Photography - 11.8 x 17.7 x 0.4 inch
$834
La mouette - série bord de mer
Philippe Maillebuau
Painting - 50 x 50 x 2 cm Painting - 19.7 x 19.7 x 0.8 inch
$620
Mémoire de JingDeZhen
Feng Hatat
Photography - 32 x 48 x 1 cm Photography - 12.6 x 18.9 x 0.4 inch
$596
Mémoire de JingDeZhen
Feng Hatat
Photography - 32 x 48 x 1 cm Photography - 12.6 x 18.9 x 0.4 inch
$715
Mémoire de JingDeZhen
Feng Hatat
Photography - 50 x 40 x 1 cm Photography - 19.7 x 15.7 x 0.4 inch
$715
Getting Warm
Eter Merkviladze
Fine Art Drawings - 43 x 30 x 0.2 cm Fine Art Drawings - 16.9 x 11.8 x 0.1 inch
$715
Internal landscape
Katsiaryna Sumarava
Painting - 25 x 30 x 2 cm Painting - 9.8 x 11.8 x 0.8 inch
$1,788
Subjective Landscape.
Katsiaryna Sumarava
Painting - 40 x 50 x 2 cm Painting - 15.7 x 19.7 x 0.8 inch
$1,073
Subjective landscape.
Katsiaryna Sumarava
Painting - 40 x 50 x 2 cm Painting - 15.7 x 19.7 x 0.8 inch
$1,311
Serie “Sensaciones” (1)
Miguel Lopez Navarrete
Painting - 19 x 26 x 1 cm Painting - 7.5 x 10.2 x 0.4 inch
$954
L'heure bleue 05 2017
Feng Hatat
Photography - 45 x 30 x 1 cm Photography - 17.7 x 11.8 x 0.4 inch
$715
L'heure bleue 02 2017
Feng Hatat
Photography - 45 x 30 x 1 cm Photography - 17.7 x 11.8 x 0.4 inch
$715
L'heure bleue 01 2017
Feng Hatat
Photography - 45 x 30 x 1 cm Photography - 17.7 x 11.8 x 0.4 inch
$715
Verdure et Lumière Cristalline III
Akané Kirimura
Print - 31.5 x 47 cm Print - 12.4 x 18.5 inch
$656
Verdure et Lumière Cristalline III
Akané Kirimura
Print - 31.5 x 47 cm Print - 12.4 x 18.5 inch
$656
L'heure bleue du ciel 2
Feng Hatat
Photography - 40 x 50 x 1 cm Photography - 15.7 x 19.7 x 0.4 inch
$715
Voyages en Arcadie N°157
Gilbert Sabatier
Painting - 50 x 40 x 1.8 cm Painting - 19.7 x 15.7 x 0.7 inch
$1,550
Voyages en Arcadie N°150
Gilbert Sabatier
Painting - 50 x 40 x 1.8288 cm Painting - 19.7 x 15.7 x 0.7 inch
$1,550
Voyages en Arcadie N°132
Gilbert Sabatier
Painting - 50 x 40 x 1.8 cm Painting - 19.7 x 15.7 x 0.7 inch
$1,550
Voyages en Arcadie N°130
Gilbert Sabatier
Painting - 50 x 40 x 1.8 cm Painting - 19.7 x 15.7 x 0.7 inch
$1,550
Voyages en Arcadie N°128
Gilbert Sabatier
Painting - 50 x 40 x 1.8 cm Painting - 19.7 x 15.7 x 0.7 inch
$1,550
Voyages en Arcadie N°124
Gilbert Sabatier
Painting - 50 x 40 x 1.8 cm Painting - 19.7 x 15.7 x 0.7 inch
$1,550
Les vignes de Montmartre
Jacques Coquillay
Painting - 50 x 50 x 0.5 cm Painting - 19.7 x 19.7 x 0.2 inch
$1,788
Champs et arbres verts
Christine Desplanque
Painting - 50 x 50 x 2 cm Painting - 19.7 x 19.7 x 0.8 inch
$709
Path in the birch forest
Boris Serdyuk
Painting - 34 x 22.7 x 2 cm Painting - 13.4 x 8.9 x 0.8 inch
$364
Les montagnes étaient là avant
Adrianna MJW
Painting - 20 x 40 x 5 cm Painting - 7.9 x 15.7 x 2 inch
$1,013
The road over the river
Boris Serdyuk
Painting - 23 x 34 x 2 cm Painting - 9.1 x 13.4 x 0.8 inch
$268
The sunny february day - winter landscape painting
Nikolay Dmitriev
Painting - 21.5 x 35 x 2 cm Painting - 8.5 x 13.8 x 0.8 inch
$954
The first flash of green - spring landscape painting
Nikolay Dmitriev
Painting - 50 x 50 x 2 cm Painting - 19.7 x 19.7 x 0.8 inch
$954
Light Of The Fading Day
Nikolay Dmitriev
Painting - 25 x 40 x 0.3 cm Painting - 9.8 x 15.7 x 0.1 inch
$1,216
Forger ses racines
Christine Marie Nobre
Painting - 40 x 40 x 3 cm Painting - 15.7 x 15.7 x 1.2 inch
$906
Morning Silence
Victor Roschkov
Painting - 44.5 x 40.6 x 0.3 cm Painting - 17.5 x 16 x 0.1 inch
$553
Paysage avec des pêcheurs, Normandie
Alexei Lantsev
Print - 36 x 28.5 x 0.1 cm Print - 14.2 x 11.2 x 0 inch
$173
Montagna liquida
Antonino Puliafico
Painting - 30 x 40 x 2 cm Painting - 11.8 x 15.7 x 0.8 inch
$536
