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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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
$714
El viajero & Compradito (Bronze)
Antonio Segui
Sculpture - 20 x 30 x 15 cm Sculpture - 7.9 x 11.8 x 5.9 inch
$5,953
CAMPAGNE CALME LUEUR BLEUTEE
Sophie Petetin
Print - 40 x 40 x 0.5 cm Print - 15.7 x 15.7 x 0.2 inch
$165
One Dollar Rouge Mat
Karl Lagasse
Sculpture - 16.5 x 39.5 x 0.2 cm Sculpture - 6.5 x 15.6 x 0.1 inch
$2,738 $2,191
Marilyn in Famous Black Dress (1962)
Bert Stern
Photography - 48 x 33 x 1 cm Photography - 18.9 x 13 x 0.4 inch
$2,964
Cloned Marmot with pet bottle
William Sweetlove
Sculpture - 36 x 26 x 20 cm Sculpture - 14.2 x 10.2 x 7.9 inch
$6,548
Para que los cocodrilos duerman en largas filas
Josep Guinovart
Print - 47 x 49 cm Print - 18.5 x 19.3 inch
$476
Buste de Long John Silver
Christophe Charbonnel
Sculpture - 30 x 21 x 17 cm Sculpture - 11.8 x 8.3 x 6.7 inch
$9,524
Village France. The Alps
Yehor Dulin
Painting - 40 x 50 x 2 cm Painting - 15.7 x 19.7 x 0.8 inch
$1,000 $800
Untitled
Jose Ricardo Contreras Gonzalez
Painting - 30 x 25 x 0.3 cm Painting - 11.8 x 9.8 x 0.1 inch
$700
Aquarelle graphique 1
Agathe Wagner
Fine Art Drawings - 36 x 46 x 1 cm Fine Art Drawings - 14.2 x 18.1 x 0.4 inch
$952
Aquarelle graphique 5
Agathe Wagner
Fine Art Drawings - 46 x 36 x 1 cm Fine Art Drawings - 18.1 x 14.2 x 0.4 inch
$952
Aquarelle graphique 6
Agathe Wagner
Fine Art Drawings - 36 x 46 x 1 cm Fine Art Drawings - 14.2 x 18.1 x 0.4 inch
$952
Les patineuses
Danielle Le Bricquir
Painting - 50 x 50 x 1 cm Painting - 19.7 x 19.7 x 0.4 inch
$714
Paysage d'hiver
Pierre Tal-Coat
Fine Art Drawings - 20 x 30 cm Fine Art Drawings - 7.9 x 11.8 inch
$2,143
El campesino
James Sparshatt
Photography - 50 x 50 x 1 cm Photography - 19.7 x 19.7 x 0.4 inch
$1,123
El viajero & Compradito (Silver)
Antonio Segui
Sculpture - 20 x 30 x 15 cm Sculpture - 7.9 x 11.8 x 5.9 inch
$6,548
Close to nothing (Blue)
Sophie Derrick
Photography - 42 x 30 x 8 cm Photography - 16.5 x 11.8 x 3.1 inch
$1,695
Close to nothing (Yellow)
Sophie Derrick
Photography - 42 x 30 x 8 cm Photography - 16.5 x 11.8 x 3.1 inch
$1,695
Espace magique
Pedro Moreno Linares
Sculpture - 26 x 16 x 16 cm Sculpture - 10.2 x 6.3 x 6.3 inch
$1,167
Pichet Gravé Gris (Ceramic Pitcher)
Pablo Picasso
Design - 27.9 x 25.4 x 17.8 cm Design - 11 x 10 x 7 inch
$39,500
Le Soleil sur la Clôture
Yuriy Demiyanov
Painting - 40 x 50 x 4 cm Painting - 15.7 x 19.7 x 1.6 inch
$1,071
Paysage avec un Pont
Yuriy Demiyanov
Painting - 40 x 50 x 4 cm Painting - 15.7 x 19.7 x 1.6 inch
$1,429
Dans La Clairière Solaire
Yuriy Demiyanov
Painting - 40 x 50 x 4 cm Painting - 15.7 x 19.7 x 1.6 inch
$1,071
Soleil sur Les Branches
Yuriy Demiyanov
Painting - 40 x 50 x 4 cm Painting - 15.7 x 19.7 x 1.6 inch
$2,548
Fleurs par la Route
Yuriy Demiyanov
Painting - 40 x 50 x 4 cm Painting - 15.7 x 19.7 x 1.6 inch
$1,071
