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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Etude
Gilbert Pastor
Fine Art Drawings - 10 x 32 x 0.1 cm Fine Art Drawings - 3.9 x 12.6 x 0 inch
$596
Fossile
Xavier Albert Fiala
Fine Art Drawings - 36.5 x 23 x 0.3 cm Fine Art Drawings - 14.4 x 9.1 x 0.1 inch
$740
Series The Image Of Mountain No.1
Bao-Hua Dang
Painting - 40 x 40 x 4 cm Painting - 15.7 x 15.7 x 1.6 inch
$1,073
Cubos Transparencia 2 (Framed)
Rodrigo Spinel
Fine Art Drawings - 25 x 35 x 0.3 cm Fine Art Drawings - 9.8 x 13.8 x 0.1 inch
$700
Sans titre (192)
Zwy Milshtein
Fine Art Drawings - 25 x 36 x 0.1 cm Fine Art Drawings - 9.8 x 14.2 x 0 inch
$1,788
Clouds over the Tay Rail Bridge
Alastair Faulkner
Painting - 35 x 45 x 5 cm Painting - 13.8 x 17.7 x 2 inch
$2,027
Orografia 8
Josep María Codina
Fine Art Drawings - 30 x 40 x 5 cm Fine Art Drawings - 11.8 x 15.7 x 2 inch
$954
The Self 16
Neerja Chandna Peters
Painting - 50.8 x 40.6 x 0.3 cm Painting - 20 x 16 x 0.1 inch
$2,400
El grupo (Colección La Bolsa Mágica)
Sonja H Lukenic
Photography - 29.7 x 21 x 0.1 cm Photography - 11.7 x 8.3 x 0 inch
$1,073
África tribal VII
José Manuel Velasco
Painting - 50 x 50 x 2 cm Painting - 19.7 x 19.7 x 0.8 inch
$1,550
Readers series - Philosophy of money
Nikolaus von Wolff
Print - 50 x 50 x 0.1 cm Print - 19.7 x 19.7 x 0 inch
$954
The Chair, Painting, Acrylic on Canvas
Nicole Daniah Sidonie
Painting - 36.1 x 36.1 x 0.3 cm Painting - 14.2 x 14.2 x 0.1 inch
$703
Timeless 3
Laura Spring
Fine Art Drawings - 35.6 x 25.4 x 0.3 cm Fine Art Drawings - 14 x 10 x 0.1 inch
$150
Black Sea Beach
Giorgi Kukhalashvili
Fine Art Drawings - 30 x 41.5 x 0.1 cm Fine Art Drawings - 11.8 x 16.3 x 0 inch
$3,338
06 - 16 - 1961 - Lobby Cards Series - Red
Pierre-Emmanuel Chatiliez
Print - 39 x 50 cm Print - 15.4 x 19.7 inch
$834
Oris 4 (série de 40 têtes)
Kevin-Ademola Sangosanya
Painting - 49 x 33 cm Painting - 19.3 x 13 inch
$1,788
Venise de Chine Suzhou Chinese Venise 1986
Wu Biduan
Print - 32 x 25 cm Print - 12.6 x 9.8 inch
$1,180
Gardien de chevaux 1987 Horses Guardian
Guang Jun
Print - 25 x 32.5 cm Print - 9.8 x 12.8 inch
$1,180
Cabeza verde ante nubes
Juan José Fuentes Reyes
Sculpture - 24 x 28.5 x 5 cm Sculpture - 9.4 x 11.2 x 2 inch
$2,146
The moon is generous
Galia Chuntova
Painting - 35 x 35 x 2 cm Painting - 13.8 x 13.8 x 0.8 inch
$894
#Paysage sauvage #2
Niki Neuts
Fine Art Drawings - 30 x 40 cm Fine Art Drawings - 11.8 x 15.7 inch
$715
L’herbe des Corbières
Anna Camille
Fine Art Drawings - 30 x 42 x 1 cm Fine Art Drawings - 11.8 x 16.5 x 0.4 inch
$834
Summer Watercolor 1
Viktoria Ganhao
Fine Art Drawings - 30 x 40 x 0.2 cm Fine Art Drawings - 11.8 x 15.7 x 0.1 inch
$250
Pastorale africaine - Complicité, frères et soeurs
Catherine Clare
Print - 50 x 50 x 2 cm Print - 19.7 x 19.7 x 0.8 inch
$715
Twin Brother
Oshorenoya David Francis
Painting - 46 x 29.7 x 2.5 cm Painting - 18.1 x 11.7 x 1 inch
$1,350
Comedian Tribute to Maurizio Cattelan
Jinks Kunst
Painting - 38 x 46 x 1.5 cm Painting - 15 x 18.1 x 0.6 inch
$954
The moment of the eternal everything
William Oxer F.R.S.A.
Painting - 40.6 x 27.9 x 2.5 cm Painting - 16 x 11 x 1 inch
$1,900
Machines et outillages
John Reitz
Painting - 31.5 x 41.5 x 0.5 cm Painting - 12.4 x 16.3 x 0.2 inch
$2,270
