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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Peace Fingers
Shepard Fairey (Obey)
Design - 30.5 x 17.5 x 5.6 cm Design - 12 x 6.9 x 2.2 inch
$1,907
Sardinia. Porto Pollo_7
Galya Popova
Fine Art Drawings - 42 x 29.7 x 0.1 cm Fine Art Drawings - 16.5 x 11.7 x 0 inch
$429
Femme au chapeau
Martine Fauve Dechavanne
Painting - 29 x 23 x 1 cm Painting - 11.4 x 9.1 x 0.4 inch
$393
Cher pays de mon enfance... III (Terre d’enfants)
Olivier Messas
Sculpture - 36 x 30 x 5 cm Sculpture - 14.2 x 11.8 x 2 inch
$2,623
Cher pays de mon enfance... II (Terre d’enfants)
Olivier Messas
Sculpture - 36 x 30 x 5 cm Sculpture - 14.2 x 11.8 x 2 inch
$2,980
Cher pays de mon enfance... I (Terre d’enfants)
Olivier Messas
Sculpture - 36 x 30 x 5 cm Sculpture - 14.2 x 11.8 x 2 inch
$2,980
Diversité... (Terre d’enfants)
Olivier Messas
Sculpture - 36 x 30 x 5 cm Sculpture - 14.2 x 11.8 x 2 inch
$2,623
La route vers la Sibérie
Franciszek Starowieyski
Fine Art Drawings - 22 x 30 cm Fine Art Drawings - 8.7 x 11.8 inch
$596
L'éloge de l'ennui
Yoann Merienne
Sculpture - 24 x 27 x 37 cm Sculpture - 9.4 x 10.6 x 14.6 inch
$7,749
Enduring Echoes 2 - 21st Century, Contemporary, Figurative Portrait, Old Masters
Bakare Abubakri-sideeq Babatunde
Painting - 50.8 x 45.7 x 2.5 cm Painting - 20 x 18 x 1 inch
$1,450
Summer party at the Hoyt House
Manuel Santelices
Fine Art Drawings - 30.5 x 22.9 x 0.3 cm Fine Art Drawings - 12 x 9 x 0.1 inch
$550
Green (men)
Manuel Santelices
Fine Art Drawings - 27.9 x 35.6 x 0.3 cm Fine Art Drawings - 11 x 14 x 0.1 inch
$550
Metamorphoses of a collective effervescence
Vladimir Kolosov
Painting - 50.8 x 40.6 x 0.6 cm Painting - 20 x 16 x 0.25 inch
$930
Heavenly Guardian, no 8/8
Joanna Zakrzewska-Cholewa
Sculpture - 37 x 9 x 9.5 cm Sculpture - 14.6 x 3.5 x 3.7 inch
$2,146
Autoportrait à 45 ans
Muriel Deumie
Painting - 50 x 50 x 4 cm Painting - 19.7 x 19.7 x 1.6 inch
$954
Les papillons musiciens
Martine Fauve Dechavanne
Painting - 30 x 30 x 2 cm Painting - 11.8 x 11.8 x 0.8 inch
$453
Violon oublié des dieux 71-23
Philippe Buil
Sculpture - 40 x 13 x 11 cm Sculpture - 15.7 x 5.1 x 4.3 inch
$1,192
Guardian of the Heart
Liana Asatryan
Painting - 40 x 30 x 2 cm Painting - 15.7 x 11.8 x 0.8 inch
$600
Citrus elixir
Sumit Mehndiratta
Sculpture - 35 x 23 x 23 cm Sculpture - 13.8 x 9.1 x 9.1 inch
$1,776
ASIAN MARKET, PETIT MATIN
Sophie Petetin
Painting - 50 x 50 x 2.5 cm Painting - 19.7 x 19.7 x 1 inch
$829
Estate, serie Stagioni
Alexander Daniloff
Painting - 44.5 x 31.5 x 0.5 cm Painting - 17.5 x 12.4 x 0.2 inch
$620
Breath of the Mountains
Uliana Sal
Painting - 50 x 50 x 1.5 cm Painting - 19.7 x 19.7 x 0.6 inch
$650
Waiting for spring
Svetlana Saprykina
Painting - 30 x 30 x 2 cm Painting - 11.8 x 11.8 x 0.8 inch
$600
