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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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Sculpture, Metropolis, Irina Shark

Metropolis

Irina Shark

Sculpture - 34 x 13 x 23 cm Sculpture - 13.4 x 5.1 x 9.1 inch

$6,557

Fine Art Drawings, Gareth Pugh, Manuel Santelices

Gareth Pugh

Manuel Santelices

Fine Art Drawings - 22.9 x 30.5 x 0.3 cm Fine Art Drawings - 9 x 12 x 0.1 inch

$600

Painting, Treat, Hunt Slonem

Treat

Hunt Slonem

Painting - 25.4 x 20.32 x 2 cm Painting - 10 x 8 x 0.8 inch

$8,345

Painting, Brigitte, Marian Williams

Brigitte

Marian Williams

Painting - 46 x 38 x 2 cm Painting - 18.1 x 15 x 0.8 inch

$417

Painting, Miranda, Hunt Slonem

Miranda

Hunt Slonem

Painting - 25.4 x 20.3 x 2 cm Painting - 10 x 8 x 0.8 inch

$8,345

Painting, Circus II, Zakhar Shevchuk

Circus II

Zakhar Shevchuk

Painting - 47 x 37 x 2 cm Painting - 18.5 x 14.6 x 0.8 inch

$1,180

Painting, Seagull, Wang Dianyu

Seagull

Wang Dianyu

Painting - 40 x 30 x 2 cm Painting - 15.7 x 11.8 x 0.8 inch

$1,192

Painting, Harmonie, Albena Vatcheva

Harmonie

Albena Vatcheva

Painting - 35 x 35 x 2 cm Painting - 13.8 x 13.8 x 0.8 inch

$685

Painting, Compétition, Sylvie Eudes

Compétition

Sylvie Eudes

Painting - 30 x 30 x 2 cm Painting - 11.8 x 11.8 x 0.8 inch

$1,311

Painting, Life from heart, AreiRa

Life from heart

AreiRa

Painting - 39 x 29 x 0.3 cm Painting - 15.4 x 11.4 x 0.1 inch

$596

Sculpture, Ours Nandi, Philippe Buil

Ours Nandi

Philippe Buil

Sculpture - 31 x 26 x 27 cm Sculpture - 12.2 x 10.2 x 10.6 inch

$1,848

Painting, Femme III, Hong Shen

Femme III

Hong Shen

Painting - 40 x 30 x 2 cm Painting - 15.7 x 11.8 x 0.8 inch

$596

Painting, Mother, Isabelle Hirtzig

Mother

Isabelle Hirtzig

Painting - 30 x 30 x 0.1 cm Painting - 11.8 x 11.8 x 0 inch

$215

Painting, Cold, Wang Dianyu

Cold

Wang Dianyu

Painting - 35 x 20 x 3 cm Painting - 13.8 x 7.9 x 1.2 inch

$2,861

Fine Art Drawings, Untitled 166, Tarek Butayhi

Untitled 166

Tarek Butayhi

Fine Art Drawings - 30 x 21 cm Fine Art Drawings - 11.8 x 8.3 inch

$700

Fine Art Drawings, Untitled 163, Tarek Butayhi

Untitled 163

Tarek Butayhi

Fine Art Drawings - 30 x 21 cm Fine Art Drawings - 11.8 x 8.3 inch

$700

Fine Art Drawings, Untitled 174, Tarek Butayhi

Untitled 174

Tarek Butayhi

Fine Art Drawings - 42 x 34 cm Fine Art Drawings - 16.5 x 13.4 inch

$800

Fine Art Drawings, Untitled 180, Tarek Butayhi

Untitled 180

Tarek Butayhi

Fine Art Drawings - 42 x 34 cm Fine Art Drawings - 16.5 x 13.4 inch

$800

Painting, Fearless Cat Charm, Victo

Fearless Cat Charm

Victo

Painting - 30 x 30 x 4 cm Painting - 11.8 x 11.8 x 1.6 inch

$600

Sculpture, Waiting to exhale, Arman

Waiting to exhale

Arman

Sculpture - 40 x 24.5 x 7 cm Sculpture - 15.7 x 9.6 x 2.8 inch

$11,325

Painting, Nightsea, Peter de Boer

Nightsea

Peter de Boer

Painting - 30 x 40 x 2 cm Painting - 11.8 x 15.7 x 0.8 inch

$1,073

16/100