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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Urban Haring Tribute
Priscilla Vettese
Painting - 41 x 38 x 2 cm Painting - 16.1 x 15 x 0.8 inch
$346
Capsule Patek Philippe Genève Black
S2Bart
Sculpture - 35 x 35 x 4 cm Sculpture - 13.8 x 13.8 x 1.6 inch
$358
Sens Dessus Dessous
Michel Baudry
Painting - 40 x 40 x 1.9 cm Painting - 15.7 x 15.7 x 0.7 inch
$2,146
Le penseur, d'après Rodin
Alben
Sculpture - 37 x 16 x 16 cm Sculpture - 14.6 x 6.3 x 6.3 inch
$4,769
Magnifying glass "Cream"
Shepard Fairey (Obey)
Print - 33 x 25 x 0.2 cm Print - 13 x 9.8 x 0.1 inch
$477
Evening rest
Rakhmet Redzhepov (Ramzi)
Painting - 40 x 50 x 2 cm Painting - 15.7 x 19.7 x 0.8 inch
$715
0ld suitcase.
Rakhmet Redzhepov (Ramzi)
Painting - 40 x 50 x 2 cm Painting - 15.7 x 19.7 x 0.8 inch
$715
You Broke My Heart
Rakhmet Redzhepov (Ramzi)
Painting - 34 x 50 x 0.3 cm Painting - 13.4 x 19.7 x 0.1 inch
$775
Here comes the sun
Shokkobo Popart
Painting - 50 x 50 x 3.4 cm Painting - 19.7 x 19.7 x 1.3 inch
$1,067
The smell of money
Illegalartbusiness
Painting - 22 x 30 x 1 cm Painting - 8.7 x 11.8 x 0.4 inch
$954
Maidenform Molly (Lithograph with Gold Leaf)
Mel Ramos
Print - 45.7 x 45.7 x 2.5 cm Print - 18 x 18 x 1 inch
$3,375
Basquiat POP Hexa-Box
Priscilla Vettese
Sculpture - 24 x 27 x 10 cm Sculpture - 9.4 x 10.6 x 3.9 inch
$416
Lego Playmo Princess x POP Hexa-Box
Priscilla Vettese
Sculpture - 24 x 27 x 10 cm Sculpture - 9.4 x 10.6 x 3.9 inch
$416
Pikachu's Soup x POP Hexa-Box
Priscilla Vettese
Sculpture - 24 x 27 x 10 cm Sculpture - 9.4 x 10.6 x 3.9 inch
$416
Ghostbusters x POP x Play Hexa-Box
Priscilla Vettese
Sculpture - 26 x 30 x 11 cm Sculpture - 10.2 x 11.8 x 4.3 inch
$476
Giraffe Soup x Sophie X POP Hexa-Box
Priscilla Vettese
Sculpture - 26 x 30 x 11 cm Sculpture - 10.2 x 11.8 x 4.3 inch
$476
Lithographie Store Housse Pink Gold
Karl Lagasse
Print - 46.5 x 32 x 0.1 cm Print - 18.3 x 12.6 x 0 inch
$2,265
Snoopy Be Boy Street Art
Peppone
Sculpture - 50 x 26 x 30 cm Sculpture - 19.7 x 10.2 x 11.8 inch
$7,630
I want to break free - Blue heart
Sagrasse
Sculpture - 35 x 35 x 6 cm Sculpture - 13.8 x 13.8 x 2.4 inch
$525
Popeye Pink – Golden Banana – Medium
Diederik Van Apple
Sculpture - 42 x 26 x 18 cm Sculpture - 16.5 x 10.2 x 7.1 inch
$1,967
Popeye Red – Golden Banana – Medium
Diederik Van Apple
Sculpture - 42 x 26 x 18 cm Sculpture - 16.5 x 10.2 x 7.1 inch
$1,967
Popeye Black – Golden Banana – Medium
Diederik Van Apple
Sculpture - 42 x 26 x 18 cm Sculpture - 16.5 x 10.2 x 7.1 inch
$1,967
Un coup de dés jamais n'abolira le hasard
Hervé Di Rosa
Print - 40 x 35 x 1.5 cm Print - 15.7 x 13.8 x 0.6 inch
$536
Silver Samurai Cat
Dervis Akdemir
Sculpture - 30 x 19 x 12 cm Sculpture - 11.8 x 7.5 x 4.7 inch
$183
Illuminated David
Dervis Akdemir
Sculpture - 50 x 40 x 20 cm Sculpture - 19.7 x 15.7 x 7.9 inch
$1,016
Zeus Lighted Hand Neon Design
Dervis Akdemir
Sculpture - 50 x 18 x 11 cm Sculpture - 19.7 x 7.1 x 4.3 inch
$917
One Dollar Bleu Royal
Karl Lagasse
Sculpture - 38 x 16 x 0.2 cm Sculpture - 15 x 6.3 x 0.1 inch
$1,907
Michelin China White
Li Lihong
Sculpture - 28.5 x 27 x 24 cm Sculpture - 11.2 x 10.6 x 9.4 inch
$2,980
One Dollar Red Underground
Karl Lagasse
Sculpture - 39 x 17.5 x 0.4 cm Sculpture - 15.4 x 6.9 x 0.2 inch
$2,146
Freddie Mercury Forever
Priscilla Vettese
Print - 42 x 29.7 x 2 cm Print - 16.5 x 11.7 x 0.8 inch
$107
Pop Art Perfection: The Purple Figure
Dervis Akdemir
Sculpture - 37 x 15 x 12 cm Sculpture - 14.6 x 5.9 x 4.7 inch
$423
Free hand & Spray Tag
Marc Boffin
Sculpture - 33 x 23 x 20 cm Sculpture - 13 x 9.1 x 7.9 inch
$2,980
Boujee Miss America
Dervis Akdemir
Sculpture - 35 x 11 x 13 cm Sculpture - 13.8 x 4.3 x 5.1 inch
$254
David & The Great Wave off Kanagawa
Dervis Akdemir
Sculpture - 42 x 25 x 12 cm Sculpture - 16.5 x 9.8 x 4.7 inch
$339