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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Encoded Power
Tetiana Ocheredko
Fine Art Drawings - 30 x 42 x 0.1 cm Fine Art Drawings - 11.8 x 16.5 x 0 inch
$700
12 - Red
Genny Puccini
Fine Art Drawings - 50 x 50 x 0.3 cm Fine Art Drawings - 19.7 x 19.7 x 0.1 inch
$763
Estudio para astrofisico
Yamandú Canosa
Fine Art Drawings - 26 x 36 x 0.1 cm Fine Art Drawings - 10.2 x 14.2 x 0 inch
$834
The Pop Vibe Of Fashion I
Alejandro Moretti
Sculpture - 40 x 29 x 12.5 cm Sculpture - 15.7 x 11.4 x 4.9 inch
$715
Figure
Robert Luis Nicoidski
Fine Art Drawings - 29.5 x 17.5 x 0.1 cm Fine Art Drawings - 11.6 x 6.9 x 0 inch
$739
Moiré Indigo (Abstract painting)
Tom Henderson
Painting - 32 x 29 cm Painting - 12.6 x 11.4 inch
$2,822
Sans titre
Serge Charchoune
Fine Art Drawings - 19 x 28.3 x 0.02 cm Fine Art Drawings - 7.5 x 11.1 x 0 inch
$1,073
Girl with a Cat
David Popiashvili
Painting - 43 x 30.5 x 4 cm Painting - 16.9 x 12 x 1.6 inch
$1,600
Etat de corps
Manuela Cordenos
Sculpture - 47 x 35 x 25 cm Sculpture - 18.5 x 13.8 x 9.8 inch
$2,945
Donald Duck and Le Petit Ecolier, Early 20th Century Oil on Board by Pierre Villain
Pierre Villain
Painting - 37.5 x 45.5 x 2 cm Painting - 14.8 x 17.9 x 0.8 inch
$744
Louis Vuitton Sailboat
Arcanis
Sculpture - 40 x 40 x 15 cm Sculpture - 15.7 x 15.7 x 5.9 inch
$1,800
Masques dansants d'Ensor
Gaëlle Redon
Photography - 40 x 30 x 0.3 cm Photography - 15.7 x 11.8 x 0.1 inch
$811
Sunshine Bliss: The Aroma of Summer Watermelon
Max Skoblinsky
Painting - 50 x 40 x 3 cm Painting - 19.7 x 15.7 x 1.2 inch
$1,788
La question
Albane de Saint Remy
Fine Art Drawings - 35 x 24 x 0.1 cm Fine Art Drawings - 13.8 x 9.4 x 0 inch
$858
Untitled (red-white)
Jasper van der Graaf
Painting - 40 x 30 x 0.1 cm Painting - 15.7 x 11.8 x 0 inch
$1,058
Diego Rivera
Marcel Sternberger
Photography - 50.8 x 40.6 x 1.3 cm Photography - 20 x 16 x 0.5 inch
$1,600
AbstraKoeur Cosmos Peace
M. Koeur
Painting - 50 x 50 x 2 cm Painting - 19.7 x 19.7 x 0.8 inch
$1,311
Pertinance
Casper Versluis
Sculpture - 48.5 x 24.5 x 18.5 cm Sculpture - 19.1 x 9.6 x 7.3 inch
$2,146
Zig Zag ref BDNW8096
Lutka Pink
Fine Art Drawings - 35 x 27 cm Fine Art Drawings - 13.8 x 10.6 inch
$775
BabyBrat Angie blanc assis
Brat
Sculpture - 30 x 25 x 15 cm Sculpture - 11.8 x 9.8 x 5.9 inch
$5,841
La petite Sainte Coquette
Svetlana Melik-Nubarova
Photography - 50.8 x 40.6 cm Photography - 20 x 16 inch
$1,133
Toxic American
Michael Alan
Fine Art Drawings - 27.9 x 22.9 x 0.1 cm Fine Art Drawings - 11 x 9 x 0.04 inch
$2,100
One Flew Over the Cuckoo's Nest
Vladas Kanciauskas
Sculpture - 39 x 42 x 18 cm Sculpture - 15.4 x 16.5 x 7.1 inch
$3,576
Andy Warhol and Keith Haring
Christopher Makos
Photography - 38.1 x 48.3 cm Photography - 15 x 19 inch
$4,500
Help is near
Marlen Letetzki
Painting - 50 x 40 x 1 cm Painting - 19.7 x 15.7 x 0.4 inch
$3,576 $3,219
“Ma” Joie : Brouillard à Kameoka
Yuria Mizuta-Morso
Painting - 38 x 45.5 x 2 cm Painting - 15 x 17.9 x 0.8 inch
$2,694
Enfants sur soupe Campbell
Haim Zanzouri
Painting - 36 x 16 x 2 cm Painting - 14.2 x 6.3 x 0.8 inch
$606
Artist's Soul Flowers Keith Haring
Florence Fabris
Sculpture - 43 x 16 x 32 cm Sculpture - 16.9 x 6.3 x 12.6 inch
$1,907
Cosmic Profile (original mixed media and watercolor)
Peter Max
Fine Art Drawings - 30.5 x 34.3 x 0.3 cm Fine Art Drawings - 12 x 13.5 x 0.1 inch
$3,375
Paris, Déambulation 3
Anne Niewiadomski
Painting - 50 x 50 x 2 cm Painting - 19.7 x 19.7 x 0.8 inch
$775
Smoke IV
Jose Ricardo Contreras Gonzalez
Painting - 30 x 25 x 0.3 cm Painting - 11.8 x 9.8 x 0.1 inch
$700
Television Antenna
Domenico Purificato
Painting - 35.6 x 25.3 x 0.1 cm Painting - 14 x 10 x 0 inch
$596
Alors Nino tu marches ?
Clément Herrmann
Painting - 20.3 x 30.5 x 0.3 cm Painting - 8 x 12 x 0.1 inch
$954
Geoide #3. From The Geoide Series
Fredy Saul Serrano
Sculpture - 30 x 19.8 x 19.8 cm Sculpture - 11.8 x 7.8 x 7.8 inch
$1,200
Végetaniamals 15
K TD
Fine Art Drawings - 21 x 29.7 x 0.2 cm Fine Art Drawings - 8.3 x 11.7 x 0.1 inch
$715
The Red Big Dancer
Pròsper Riba Vilardell
Sculpture - 50 x 16 x 16 cm Sculpture - 19.7 x 6.3 x 6.3 inch
$1,162
