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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Dream but don't sleep
Dr. Love
Fine Art Drawings - 40 x 30 x 0.2 cm Fine Art Drawings - 15.7 x 11.8 x 0.1 inch
€90
Darth Vader in Meditation
Dervis Akdemir
Sculpture - 33 x 26 x 15 cm Sculpture - 13 x 10.2 x 5.9 inch
€245
The magic potion : the untold story (Red Bull)
Kobalt
Print - 50 x 50 x 0.2 cm Print - 19.7 x 19.7 x 0.1 inch
€400
Basketball Collage
Mr Brainwash
Sculpture - 29.5 x 29.5 x 29.5 cm Sculpture - 11.6 x 11.6 x 11.6 inch
€2,400
Chanoir x Lucky Charms Honey
Chanoir
Sculpture - 30 x 21 x 6 cm Sculpture - 11.8 x 8.3 x 2.4 inch
€1,400
Pop Shop VI (complete set of 4 screen prints)
Keith Haring
Print - 34.3 x 41.9 x 0.3 cm Print - 13.5 x 16.5 x 0.1 inch
€109,178
Untitled from Pop Shop IV
Keith Haring
Print - 34.3 x 41.9 x 0.3 cm Print - 13.5 x 16.5 x 0.1 inch
€54,566
Simply Spring 5
Marian Williams
Painting - 30 x 30 x 0.5 cm Painting - 11.8 x 11.8 x 0.2 inch
€198 €179
Colorant alimentaire
Yannick Bouillault
Sculpture - 39 x 26 x 23 cm Sculpture - 15.4 x 10.2 x 9.1 inch
€470
Apple Vermeer Black
James Chiew
Sculpture - 45 x 45 x 45 cm Sculpture - 17.7 x 17.7 x 17.7 inch
€2,750
Holiday Japan Mount Fuji Plush (Pink)
Kaws
Design - 30 x 25 x 25 cm Design - 11.8 x 9.8 x 9.8 inch
€400
Holiday Japan Mount Fuji Plush (Blue)
Kaws
Design - 30 x 25 x 25 cm Design - 11.8 x 9.8 x 9.8 inch
€400
One dollar rolls black
Karl Lagasse
Sculpture - 40 x 5.5 x 4 cm Sculpture - 15.7 x 2.2 x 1.6 inch
€980
Balloon Dog (Blue)
Jeff Koons
Sculpture - 40 x 48 x 15.8 cm Sculpture - 15.7 x 18.9 x 6.2 inch
€61,438
Invader - 4000 - The Complete Guide To The Space Invaders + livre
Invader
Print - 37 x 47 x 0.1 cm Print - 14.6 x 18.5 x 0 inch
€6,000 €5,100
The Black David Meshup
Dervis Akdemir
Sculpture - 40 x 25 x 15 cm Sculpture - 15.7 x 9.8 x 5.9 inch
€358
Board Game Blend Figure
Dervis Akdemir
Sculpture - 37 x 15 x 10 cm Sculpture - 14.6 x 5.9 x 3.9 inch
€425
Fiery Orange Mini Figure
Dervis Akdemir
Sculpture - 37 x 15 x 11 cm Sculpture - 14.6 x 5.9 x 4.3 inch
€407
Yoda Kaléidoscope
Benjamin Pietri
Sculpture - 26 x 19.5 x 5.5 cm Sculpture - 10.2 x 7.7 x 2.2 inch
€800
Gacko Bear Batman Pop Art
André Gacko
Sculpture - 45 x 35 x 23 cm Sculpture - 17.7 x 13.8 x 9.1 inch
€1,680
Gacko Bear Love pop art
André Gacko
Sculpture - 27 x 26 x 21 cm Sculpture - 10.6 x 10.2 x 8.3 inch
€1,290
Gacko Bear Love pop art
André Gacko
Sculpture - 27 x 26 x 21 cm Sculpture - 10.6 x 10.2 x 8.3 inch
€1,290
Hermes & Skull Design
Dervis Akdemir
Sculpture - 30 x 20 x 18 cm Sculpture - 11.8 x 7.9 x 7.1 inch
€370
SA Mickey x Mr Doodle – Black & White
Mr Doodle
Sculpture - 29 x 11 x 30 cm Sculpture - 11.4 x 4.3 x 11.8 inch
€1,900
One Dollar Rols gold pink
Karl Lagasse
Sculpture - 40.5 x 5 x 5 cm Sculpture - 15.9 x 2 x 2 inch
€990
happy in love (tribute to Haring)
Dr. Love
Painting - 40 x 30 x 0.2 cm Painting - 15.7 x 11.8 x 0.1 inch
€120
Il suffit d’un petit rien
Laetitia Vidal
Painting - 50 x 50 x 1.5 cm Painting - 19.7 x 19.7 x 0.6 inch
€780
