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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Marine Delterme
Arnaud Baumann
Photography - 40 x 40 x 0.1 cm Photography - 15.7 x 15.7 x 0 inch
$1,431
Eternal Recurrence #40, Original Photo Collage, Framed
Natasha Zupan
Painting - 43.2 x 39.4 x 0.3 cm Painting - 17 x 15.5 x 0.1 inch
$2,250
Première sève - Série sculpture bronze corps humain
Monique Gervais
Sculpture - 16 x 35 x 16 cm Sculpture - 6.3 x 13.8 x 6.3 inch
$3,427
Oto-confidences
Claire Bonnet-Masimbert
Sculpture - 39 x 26.5 x 35.5 cm Sculpture - 15.4 x 10.4 x 14 inch
$2,384
The Small Hercule
Maxime Davoust
Sculpture - 38 x 15.5 x 14.5 cm Sculpture - 15 x 6.1 x 5.7 inch
$1,311
XVI From The Red Series
Megha Joshi
Painting - 29.7 x 21.1 x 0.3 cm Painting - 11.7 x 8.3 x 0.1 inch
$1,200
Façon Marilyn
Arnaud Baumann
Photography - 45 x 30 x 0.1 cm Photography - 17.7 x 11.8 x 0 inch
$1,133
Firebird (bronze sculpture)
Erte Tirtoff
Sculpture - 40.6 x 13.5 x 20.3 cm Sculpture - 16 x 5.3 x 8 inch
$4,165
Rainy erotica-IV
Stanislav Bojankov
Painting - 50.8 x 40.6 x 2.5 cm Painting - 20 x 16 x 1 inch
$500
Still-life with anatomical structure and curious green eyes
Vladimir Kolosov
Painting - 50.8 x 40.6 x 2.5 cm Painting - 20 x 16 x 1 inch
$930
Pavarti Incertitude
Philippe Buil
Sculpture - 26 x 22 x 10 cm Sculpture - 10.2 x 8.7 x 3.9 inch
$1,133
Pavarti Signature
Philippe Buil
Sculpture - 31 x 22 x 12 cm Sculpture - 12.2 x 8.7 x 4.7 inch
$1,133
Pavarti Eclaircissement
Philippe Buil
Sculpture - 26 x 22 x 10 cm Sculpture - 10.2 x 8.7 x 3.9 inch
$1,133
Le sculpteur face à son modèle
Pablo Picasso
Print - 22.5 x 29 x 1 cm Print - 8.9 x 11.4 x 0.4 inch
$7,749
Sans titre
Franciszek Starowieyski
Fine Art Drawings - 21 x 30 x 0.2 cm Fine Art Drawings - 8.3 x 11.8 x 0.1 inch
$715
Sans titre
Franciszek Starowieyski
Fine Art Drawings - 21 x 30 x 0.2 cm Fine Art Drawings - 8.3 x 11.8 x 0.1 inch
$715
Sans titre
Franciszek Starowieyski
Fine Art Drawings - 21 x 30 x 0.2 cm Fine Art Drawings - 8.3 x 11.8 x 0.1 inch
$715
Sans titre
Franciszek Starowieyski
Fine Art Drawings - 21 x 30 x 0.2 cm Fine Art Drawings - 8.3 x 11.8 x 0.1 inch
$715
Etudes pour un paysage idéal n°3
Franciszek Starowieyski
Fine Art Drawings - 30 x 21 x 0.2 cm Fine Art Drawings - 11.8 x 8.3 x 0.1 inch
$715
Etude
Franciszek Starowieyski
Fine Art Drawings - 21 x 30 x 0.2 cm Fine Art Drawings - 8.3 x 11.8 x 0.1 inch
$715
Isolde - Yseult
Catherine Clare
Fine Art Drawings - 50 x 40 x 0.1 cm Fine Art Drawings - 19.7 x 15.7 x 0 inch
$954
Déesses stéatopyges Allongée
Brigitte De Cesco
Sculpture - 10 x 40 x 16 cm Sculpture - 3.9 x 15.7 x 6.3 inch
$1,192
Sitting woman (a tribute to Picasso)
Dr. Love
Fine Art Drawings - 40 x 30 x 0.2 cm Fine Art Drawings - 15.7 x 11.8 x 0.1 inch
$107
Nude with cigarette
Barbara Kroll
Fine Art Drawings - 39.9 x 29.5 x 0.3 cm Fine Art Drawings - 15.7 x 11.6 x 0.1 inch
$360
Edition sur papier 73020196251900076 N°3/50
Pola 4.0
Print - 50 x 40 x 0.1 cm Print - 19.7 x 15.7 x 0 inch
$691
Comme des Garcons and Louis XV Tries on Shoes, Diptych
Manuel Santelices
Fine Art Drawings - 30.5 x 45.7 x 0.3 cm Fine Art Drawings - 12 x 18 x 0.1 inch
$1,200
Ca claque bien la bise ici
G. Carta
Painting - 40 x 40 x 2 cm Painting - 15.7 x 15.7 x 0.8 inch
$712
Samuel sentait encore le sexe
G. Carta
Painting - 41 x 33 x 0.2 cm Painting - 16.1 x 13 x 0.1 inch
$715
Homme Bleu - Corps humain pâte de verre
Gilles Vadel
Sculpture - 44 x 17 x 8 cm Sculpture - 17.3 x 6.7 x 3.1 inch
$894
Pavarti Virvoltant
Philippe Buil
Sculpture - 32 x 24 x 10 cm Sculpture - 12.6 x 9.4 x 3.9 inch
$3,576
Belisama Rouge Carmin 42-19
Philippe Buil
Sculpture - 48 x 42 x 13 cm Sculpture - 18.9 x 16.5 x 5.1 inch
$3,576
La semeuse de marguerites
Guillaume Cavalier
Painting - 41 x 31 x 0.3 cm Painting - 16.1 x 12.2 x 0.1 inch
$2,253
Marilyn Boob Smile (1962)
Bert Stern
Photography - 48 x 33 x 1 cm Photography - 18.9 x 13 x 0.4 inch
$5,841
Marilyn Monroe. Baby Nude
Bert Stern
Photography - 31 x 45 x 1 cm Photography - 12.2 x 17.7 x 0.4 inch
$5,841
Marilyn 1962 (New baby in Gold)
Bert Stern
Photography - 33 x 48 x 1 cm Photography - 13 x 18.9 x 0.4 inch
$5,841
Récitation à l’éloge d’une Reine
Horst Antes
Print - 34 x 26 x 0.05 cm Print - 13.4 x 10.2 x 0 inch
$417
Récitation à l’éloge d’une Reine
Horst Antes
Print - 34 x 26 x 0.05 cm Print - 13.4 x 10.2 x 0 inch
$417
Récitation à l’éloge d’une Reine
Horst Antes
Print - 34 x 26 x 0.05 cm Print - 13.4 x 10.2 x 0 inch
$417
Marilyn. Jeweled Toga
Bert Stern
Photography - 45 x 31 x 1 cm Photography - 17.7 x 12.2 x 0.4 inch
$5,841
Étude Buste 20
Sandrine Verdier
Sculpture - 31 x 23 x 15 cm Sculpture - 12.2 x 9.1 x 5.9 inch
$1,067 $1,014
Aqua verde
Tanguy Mendrisse
Photography - 40 x 30 x 0.3 cm Photography - 15.7 x 11.8 x 0.1 inch
$191 $162
New Baby on the bed
Bert Stern
Photography - 31 x 45 x 1 cm Photography - 12.2 x 17.7 x 0.4 inch
$4,769
Fuen en El Louvre, Paris (Identity Assertions Series)
Imanol Marrodán
Photography - 45 x 30 x 0.1 cm Photography - 17.7 x 11.8 x 0 inch
$596 $536
Torso existencial 3/8
Alberto Ascaso
Sculpture - 45 x 10 x 10 cm Sculpture - 17.7 x 3.9 x 3.9 inch
$3,457
Lucia at fourteen in her grandma´s bedroom
Cristina Fontsare
Photography - 33 x 40 x 0.1 cm Photography - 13 x 15.7 x 0 inch
$715 $608