Sand barge at Noordwijkerhout
Leo van den Ende
Painting - 40 x 50 x 1.5 cm Painting - 15.7 x 19.7 x 0.6 inch
$3,576
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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L’espace -Temps
Yao Bai
Fine Art Drawings - 34 x 37 x 1 cm Fine Art Drawings - 13.4 x 14.6 x 0.4 inch
$1,490
Failles #01 Irlande
Tano Shimi
Photography - 42 x 29.5 x 1 cm Photography - 16.5 x 11.6 x 0.4 inch
$143
Layer of Amazon
Fabian Albertini
Photography - 26 x 18 x 6 cm Photography - 10.2 x 7.1 x 2.4 inch
$1,788
Voir les yeux fermés - sans titre #19
Fabrice Domenet
Photography - 30 x 30 cm Photography - 11.8 x 11.8 inch
$1,311
Sans titre - Encyclopédie Vagabonde
Antoine Grumbach
Fine Art Drawings - 31 x 23 cm Fine Art Drawings - 12.2 x 9.1 inch
$5,126
#3, from I-ching series
Alexandre Furcolin
Photography - 42 x 28 x 5 cm Photography - 16.5 x 11 x 2 inch
$1,073
Womankind. Fly 1
María María Acha-Kutscher
Photography - 30.5 x 40 cm Photography - 12 x 15.7 inch
$4,172
Sky and Shadows II
Kathleen Ney
Fine Art Drawings - 49.5 x 31.8 x 0.3 cm Fine Art Drawings - 19.5 x 12.5 x 0.1 inch
$475
Métamorphoses. Quand le corps devient paysage
Alexandra de Assuncao
Print - 30 x 40 x 0.1 cm Print - 11.8 x 15.7 x 0 inch
$95
Le Souffle de l'Autumna
Ella Elijah
Photography - 42 x 29.7 x 0.1 cm Photography - 16.5 x 11.7 x 0 inch
$620
La Ferme dans les Avoines
Maurice de Vlaminck
Fine Art Drawings - 30.2 x 34 x 1 cm Fine Art Drawings - 11.9 x 13.4 x 0.4 inch
Price upon request
L'Eveil du printemps
Sophie Dumont
Painting - 40 x 40 x 2 cm Painting - 15.7 x 15.7 x 0.8 inch
$1,311
Melodies de l'océan
Sophie Dumont
Painting - 40 x 40 x 2 cm Painting - 15.7 x 15.7 x 0.8 inch
$1,311
Fusion des éléments
Sophie Dumont
Painting - 40 x 40 x 2 cm Painting - 15.7 x 15.7 x 0.8 inch
$1,311
Cadences pastorales
Sophie Dumont
Painting - 50 x 50 x 2 cm Painting - 19.7 x 19.7 x 0.8 inch
$2,027
Frühlingssymphonie II (paysage marin, ciel, mer, nuages, vagues)
Sabine Eichler
Painting - 50 x 40 x 2 cm Painting - 19.7 x 15.7 x 0.8 inch
$703
Résonances paysagères
Sophie Dumont
Painting - 40 x 40 x 2 cm Painting - 15.7 x 15.7 x 0.8 inch
$1,180
Lumiere des labours
Sophie Dumont
Painting - 40 x 40 x 2 cm Painting - 15.7 x 15.7 x 0.8 inch
$1,311
La route des saisons
Sophie Dumont
Painting - 50 x 50 x 2 cm Painting - 19.7 x 19.7 x 0.8 inch
$2,027
L'esquisse du silence
Sophie Dumont
Painting - 50 x 50 x 2 cm Painting - 19.7 x 19.7 x 0.8 inch
$2,015
Lumière à l‘horizon… (Souvenirs du sud)
Olivier Messas
Painting - 40 x 40 x 2 cm Painting - 15.7 x 15.7 x 0.8 inch
$1,013
Aux confins de la voie lactée
Âme Sauvage
Painting - 30 x 30 x 0.3 cm Painting - 11.8 x 11.8 x 0.1 inch
$89
Venice-where love live
Dasha Pogodina
Painting - 50 x 40 x 2 cm Painting - 19.7 x 15.7 x 0.8 inch
$596
Tranquil Pond Symphony
Dasha Pogodina
Painting - 31 x 48.5 x 2 cm Painting - 12.2 x 19.1 x 0.8 inch
$596
A hidden kernel
Francesca Borgo
Painting - 30 x 50 x 3.2 cm Painting - 11.8 x 19.7 x 1.3 inch
$650 $585
