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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Cercle - terre verte
Yann Crenn
Sculpture - 40 x 40 x 10 cm Sculpture - 15.7 x 15.7 x 3.9 inch
€3,200
806) Mecânica Quântica
Luisa Pereira da Fonseca
Painting - 33 x 26 x 3 cm Painting - 13 x 10.2 x 1.2 inch
€1,430
Chromatic butterfly - white
Federico Cortese
Painting - 19.8 x 39.9 x 1.5 cm Painting - 7.8 x 15.7 x 0.6 inch
€264
Tile."Moments" series
Olha Vlasova
Painting - 30 x 30 x 3.5 cm Painting - 11.8 x 11.8 x 1.4 inch
€400
Le soleil se couche - série abstraction géométrique
Francia Craineguy dite Mona
Painting - 30 x 30 x 4 cm Painting - 11.8 x 11.8 x 1.6 inch
€220
La lune se lève - série abstraction géométrique
Francia Craineguy dite Mona
Painting - 30 x 30 x 4 cm Painting - 11.8 x 11.8 x 1.6 inch
€220
Focus - série abstraction géométrique
Francia Craineguy dite Mona
Painting - 30 x 30 x 4 cm Painting - 11.8 x 11.8 x 1.6 inch
€220
Un cocktail pétillant - série abstraction géométrique
Francia Craineguy dite Mona
Painting - 40 x 30 x 4 cm Painting - 15.7 x 11.8 x 1.6 inch
€280
Les retrouvailles 2 - série abstraction géométrique
Francia Craineguy dite Mona
Painting - 40 x 30 x 4 cm Painting - 15.7 x 11.8 x 1.6 inch
€280
Le chemin 1 - série abstraction géométrique
Francia Craineguy dite Mona
Painting - 40 x 30 x 4 cm Painting - 15.7 x 11.8 x 1.6 inch
€280
Le chemin 2 - série abstraction géométrique
Francia Craineguy dite Mona
Painting - 40 x 30 x 4 cm Painting - 15.7 x 11.8 x 1.6 inch
€280
Un morceau d'Amazonie - série abstraction géométrique
Francia Craineguy dite Mona
Painting - 30 x 40 x 4 cm Painting - 11.8 x 15.7 x 1.6 inch
€280
Le discours - série abstraction géométrique
Francia Craineguy dite Mona
Painting - 40 x 30 x 4 cm Painting - 15.7 x 11.8 x 1.6 inch
€280
Bloques Huecos 3, Isodomo Bloques, Picos Tercio Triptych
Rodrigo Spinel
Fine Art Drawings - 21 x 44.4 x 0.3 cm Fine Art Drawings - 8.3 x 17.5 x 0.1 inch
€1,092
Set of 3 Abstract Drawings. Framed
Rodrigo Spinel
Fine Art Drawings - 29.6 x 35.8 x 0.3 cm Fine Art Drawings - 11.7 x 14.1 x 0.1 inch
€1,092
Isodomo, Gotico, Belga, and Isodomo Grilla
Rodrigo Spinel
Fine Art Drawings - 29.6 x 42 x 0.3 cm Fine Art Drawings - 11.7 x 16.5 x 0.1 inch
€1,456
Bloques Desalineado 2, Espejo, and Regular. Framed
Rodrigo Spinel
Fine Art Drawings - 21 x 44.4 x 0.3 cm Fine Art Drawings - 8.3 x 17.5 x 0.1 inch
€1,092
Set of 4 Abstract Drawings. From the series Illusions of the Line
Rodrigo Spinel
Fine Art Drawings - 38 x 38 x 0.3 cm Fine Art Drawings - 15 x 15 x 0.1 inch
€1,456
Par dessus les montagnes
Mathilde André
Painting - 18 x 28 x 2 cm Painting - 7.1 x 11 x 0.8 inch
€400 €360
Self-Portrait 24.129
Arthur Hent
Fine Art Drawings - 30 x 21 x 0.2 cm Fine Art Drawings - 11.8 x 8.3 x 0.1 inch
€160
Colors Of The Past: Tschernobyl Floor
Nils Eichberg
Photography - 50 x 50 cm Photography - 19.7 x 19.7 inch
€1,150
Colors Of The Past: Tschernobyl Trabant
Nils Eichberg
Photography - 50 x 50 cm Photography - 19.7 x 19.7 inch
€1,150
Colors Of The Past: DDR 1981
Nils Eichberg
Photography - 50 x 50 cm Photography - 19.7 x 19.7 inch
€1,150
Colors Of The Past: DDR 1979
Nils Eichberg
Photography - 50 x 50 cm Photography - 19.7 x 19.7 inch
€1,150
Colors Of The Past: OPEL Auto
Nils Eichberg
Photography - 50 x 50 cm Photography - 19.7 x 19.7 inch
€1,150
Colors Of The Past: NSU Auto Union
Nils Eichberg
Photography - 50 x 50 cm Photography - 19.7 x 19.7 inch
€1,150
Colors Of The Past: Audi Auto
Nils Eichberg
Photography - 50 x 50 cm Photography - 19.7 x 19.7 inch
€1,150
Infinite Circular Motion (25/90)
Ron Agam
Painting - 48.3 x 48.3 x 3.8 cm Painting - 19 x 19 x 1.5 inch
€5,734
ArmillaTerre - Sculpture pâte de verre composée de 4 éléments mobiles
Christian Lutz
Sculpture - 27 x 23 x 8 cm Sculpture - 10.6 x 9.1 x 3.1 inch
€925
Balancing on the Past 4
Stefano Bombardieri
Sculpture - 35 x 18.5 x 18.5 cm Sculpture - 13.8 x 7.3 x 7.3 inch
€17,000
Série: photographie concrète numérique - IMG_1158 03.11.2013
Roger Humbert
Photography - 30 x 24 cm Photography - 11.8 x 9.4 inch
€2,300
Quantum Study (Classical 1)
Marina Kappos
Painting - 30.48 x 30.48 x 2 cm Painting - 12 x 12 x 0.8 inch
€2,900
Quantum Study (Pink Entanglement)
Marina Kappos
Painting - 40.64 x 40.64 x 2 cm Painting - 16 x 16 x 0.8 inch
€4,350
Tortue synthétique
Arnaud Dromigny
Painting - 29.7 x 42 x 2 cm Painting - 11.7 x 16.5 x 0.8 inch
€340
Dans les profondeurs
Arnaud Dromigny
Painting - 29.7 x 42 x 2 cm Painting - 11.7 x 16.5 x 0.8 inch
€416
Vitesse sur l'eau
Arnaud Dromigny
Painting - 29.7 x 42 x 2 cm Painting - 11.7 x 16.5 x 0.8 inch
€260
Bouquet Printanier 7
Brigitte Mathé
Painting - 30 x 30 x 3 cm Painting - 11.8 x 11.8 x 1.2 inch
€380
Bouquet Printanier 3
Brigitte Mathé
Painting - 30 x 30 x 3 cm Painting - 11.8 x 11.8 x 1.2 inch
€380
Fluctuat Nec Mergitur
Sébastien Kito
Sculpture - 44 x 42 x 42 cm Sculpture - 17.3 x 16.5 x 16.5 inch
€10,000
Green Edition No. 12
Doris Marten
Painting - 30 x 30 x 2 cm Painting - 11.8 x 11.8 x 0.8 inch
€1,300
Budgie Edition No. 30
Doris Marten
Painting - 30 x 30 x 2 cm Painting - 11.8 x 11.8 x 0.8 inch
€1,300
Turquoise edition no.12
Doris Marten
Painting - 30 x 30 x 2 cm Painting - 11.8 x 11.8 x 0.8 inch
€1,300
Framed Color Square I
Jens-Christian Wittig
Painting - 50.8 x 50.8 x 2.5 cm Painting - 20 x 20 x 1 inch
€3,550
Composition
Jean-Raymond Delpech
Fine Art Drawings - 18.5 x 27 x 0.2 cm Fine Art Drawings - 7.3 x 10.6 x 0.1 inch
€240