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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Plaque de métro Panthère rose
Fat
Sculpture - 45 x 30 x 2.5 cm Sculpture - 17.7 x 11.8 x 1 inch
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Plaque métro Astérix et Obélix
Fat
Sculpture - 45 x 23 x 2.5 cm Sculpture - 17.7 x 9.1 x 1 inch
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Campbells Chicken Noodle Soup (hand embellished canvas)
Steve Kaufman
Print - 41.9 x 35.6 x 2.5 cm Print - 16.5 x 14 x 1 inch
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PopArt Bear Sculpture (2)
Koen Betjes
Sculpture - 50 x 26 x 23 cm Sculpture - 19.7 x 10.2 x 9.1 inch
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Always Apple F1
Virginia Benedicto
Sculpture - 30 x 30 x 30 cm Sculpture - 11.8 x 11.8 x 11.8 inch
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Girls and Roses 1
Marian Williams
Painting - 30 x 30 x 0.5 cm Painting - 11.8 x 11.8 x 0.2 inch
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Piaf pop rock picots L
Valerie Marty
Sculpture - 34 x 16 x 23 cm Sculpture - 13.4 x 6.3 x 9.1 inch
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For The Love Of Summer
Yasna Godovanik
Painting - 35 x 45 x 16 cm Painting - 13.8 x 17.7 x 6.3 inch
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Lotus Woman
Shepard Fairey (Obey)
Painting - 31 x 31 x 0.3 cm Painting - 12.2 x 12.2 x 0.1 inch
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Kaws x Disney Pinocchio & Jiminy Cricket
Kaws
Design - 26 x 12.7 x 11.4 cm Design - 10.2 x 5 x 4.5 inch
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Double Portrait with Object 2
Marian Williams
Painting - 30 x 30 x 0.5 cm Painting - 11.8 x 11.8 x 0.2 inch
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Double Portrait with Object 1
Marian Williams
Painting - 30 x 30 x 0.5 cm Painting - 11.8 x 11.8 x 0.2 inch
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PopArt Bear Sculpture
Koen Betjes
Sculpture - 50 x 26 x 23 cm Sculpture - 19.7 x 10.2 x 9.1 inch
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Artist's Soul Flowers Marilyn
Florence Fabris
Sculpture - 43 x 16 x 32 cm Sculpture - 16.9 x 6.3 x 12.6 inch
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Sur la vague x petit prince
Wawapod
Painting - 40 x 50 x 0.1 cm Painting - 15.7 x 19.7 x 0 inch
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Flexo Viens je t'emmène Noir/Blanc
Zed
Sculpture - 43 x 32 x 14 cm Sculpture - 16.9 x 12.6 x 5.5 inch
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Flexo Diptyque Rencontre inattendue noir/blanc
Zed
Sculpture - 41 x 23 x 19 cm Sculpture - 16.1 x 9.1 x 7.5 inch
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International Youth Year (custom framed collage)
Keith Haring
Print - 27.9 x 21.6 x 0.3 cm Print - 11 x 8.5 x 0.1 inch
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Babolex X Snoop Dogg (Babosnoop)
Vincent Faudemer
Sculpture - 30 x 18 x 15 cm Sculpture - 11.8 x 7.1 x 5.9 inch
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Getting Through Walls: Book & Print Special Edition
Blek Le Rat
Print - 26.9 x 34.6 x 1 cm Print - 10.6 x 13.6 x 0.4 inch
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Pop the Champagne - Blue
Diederik Van Apple
Sculpture - 45 x 25 x 25 cm Sculpture - 17.7 x 9.8 x 9.8 inch
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Show Me The Money - Orange
Diederik Van Apple
Sculpture - 45 x 25 x 25 cm Sculpture - 17.7 x 9.8 x 9.8 inch
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Pop the Champagne - Purple
Diederik Van Apple
Sculpture - 45 x 25 x 25 cm Sculpture - 17.7 x 9.8 x 9.8 inch
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Untitled (From the Valley Series)
Keith Haring
Print - 35.6 x 30.5 x 2.54 cm Print - 14 x 12 x 1 inch
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Happy wall (tribute to Haring)
Dr. Love
Painting - 40 x 30 x 0.2 cm Painting - 15.7 x 11.8 x 0.1 inch
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Aspiring Balancing Act Toy
Kaï Aspire
Sculpture - 44.5 x 30.5 x 20.3 cm Sculpture - 17.5 x 12 x 8 inch
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Charles Leclerc breaking the curse
Megan Chung
Painting - 25.4 x 20.32 x 3 cm Painting - 10 x 8 x 1.2 inch
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Raw Blue, epreuve d'artiste
Richard Orlinski
Print - 50 x 50 x 0.1 cm Print - 19.7 x 19.7 x 0 inch
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