Collection Purity - Un Anonyme Nu Dans Le Salon - HB1371
Idan Wizen
Photography - 30 x 20 x 0.1 cm Photography - 11.8 x 7.9 x 0 inch
$179
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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Parcours Desnos, Louise Lame, étude 2
Ernest Pignon-Ernest
Fine Art Drawings - 45 x 31 cm Fine Art Drawings - 17.7 x 12.2 inch
$23,843
Coast Italiana: More Amore and Prosecco, per favore!
Kristina Mallen
Painting - 50 x 40 x 2 cm Painting - 19.7 x 15.7 x 0.8 inch
$3,159
Lady with greatcoat
Stavri Kalinov
Sculpture - 30 x 10 x 4 cm Sculpture - 11.8 x 3.9 x 1.6 inch
$3,338
Photographie de M. Monroe
Bert Stern
Photography - 48 x 33 x 1 cm Photography - 18.9 x 13 x 0.4 inch
$6,557
Lovers 10 Amoureux
Simão Da Silva
Fine Art Drawings - 40 x 30 cm Fine Art Drawings - 15.7 x 11.8 inch
$775
Homme nu sur la plage
Bruno Fournier
Photography - 30 x 30 x 1 cm Photography - 11.8 x 11.8 x 0.4 inch
$1,192
Fusione di forme (in equilibrio)
Mar Tina
Painting - 40 x 50 x 3 cm Painting - 15.7 x 19.7 x 1.2 inch
$2,146
Climbing II, Paris
Uwe Ommer
Photography - 37 x 30 x 0.3 cm Photography - 14.6 x 11.8 x 0.1 inch
$1,900
Nu au bicorne
Catherine Clare
Painting - 38 x 46 x 2.5 cm Painting - 15 x 18.1 x 1 inch
$1,133 $1,019
Sage série silhouette humaine
Nathalie Camoin-Chanet
Sculpture - 28 x 15 x 13 cm Sculpture - 11 x 5.9 x 5.1 inch
$5,484
Réflexion série silhouette humaine
Nathalie Camoin-Chanet
Sculpture - 37 x 14 x 10 cm Sculpture - 14.6 x 5.5 x 3.9 inch
$5,484
Thermomètre
Gouzy
Fine Art Drawings - 40 x 30 x 2 cm Fine Art Drawings - 15.7 x 11.8 x 0.8 inch
$715
La chevauchée
Gouzy
Fine Art Drawings - 39 x 29 x 1 cm Fine Art Drawings - 15.4 x 11.4 x 0.4 inch
$715
Fashion Sea Horse
Gouzy
Fine Art Drawings - 39 x 29 x 1 cm Fine Art Drawings - 15.4 x 11.4 x 0.4 inch
$656
I Only Dance To Feelings, Not Algorithms
Kristina Mallen
Sculpture - 30 x 30 x 0.1 cm Sculpture - 11.8 x 11.8 x 0 inch
$1,490 $1,267
Neo Deco
Corné Akkers
Fine Art Drawings - 29.7 x 21.1 x 0.3 cm Fine Art Drawings - 11.7 x 8.3 x 0.1 inch
$1,647
Neo Deco
Corné Akkers
Fine Art Drawings - 29.7 x 21.1 x 0.3 cm Fine Art Drawings - 11.7 x 8.3 x 0.1 inch
$1,598
Sculpture de Vénus
Natalie Shiporina
Painting - 50 x 40 x 2 cm Painting - 19.7 x 15.7 x 0.8 inch
$1,788
Happy Naked Year
Yassen Grigorov
Painting - 29.5 x 39.5 x 3 cm Painting - 11.6 x 15.6 x 1.2 inch
$2,384
Femme sur Rouge
Kristina Mallen
Fine Art Drawings - 31 x 23 x 0.1 cm Fine Art Drawings - 12.2 x 9.1 x 0 inch
$656
Out the shade
Mourad Cherifi
Photography - 30 x 45 x 0.02 cm Photography - 11.8 x 17.7 x 0 inch
$536
Eliza in the meadow
Ottelien Huckin
Painting - 45 x 32 x 1 cm Painting - 17.7 x 12.6 x 0.4 inch
$1,905