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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Not With Me (Papyrus)
tizlu
Fine Art Drawings - 34 x 25 x 0.1 cm Fine Art Drawings - 13.4 x 9.8 x 0 inch
€880
Quand les cloches résonnes
Mathilde André
Painting - 30 x 30 x 3 cm Painting - 11.8 x 11.8 x 1.2 inch
€580 €522
Amérique septentrionale
Clara Castagné
Fine Art Drawings - 39 x 34 x 2 cm Fine Art Drawings - 15.4 x 13.4 x 0.8 inch
€700
And Then... All Things Good and Bad, All Days Fine and Rough
Takashi Murakami
Print - 50 x 50 cm Print - 19.7 x 19.7 inch
€1,861
Isis the goddess of the family
Milko Dobrev
Sculpture - 26 x 25 x 5 cm Sculpture - 10.2 x 9.8 x 2 inch
€1,450
Homage to Newton (bronze sculpture)
Salvador Dali
Sculpture - 37.1 x 16 x 7.1 cm Sculpture - 14.6 x 6.3 x 2.8 inch
€13,377
Parfois il vaut mieux se taire
G. Carta
Painting - 36 x 36 x 0.1 cm Painting - 14.2 x 14.2 x 0 inch
€600
Faire d'un mot le bel amant d'une phrase
Miss.Tic
Print - 50 x 40 cm Print - 19.7 x 15.7 inch
€1,850
The Sky Is Burning - Size M
Brooke Shaden
Photography - 50 x 50 x 0.1 cm Photography - 19.7 x 19.7 x 0 inch
€2,400
Unsolvable Dilemma
Karen Akhikyan
Sculpture - 43 x 39 x 13 cm Sculpture - 16.9 x 15.4 x 5.1 inch
€1,829
Medusas’ Protective Gaze
Dervis Akdemir
Sculpture - 31 x 23 x 15 cm Sculpture - 12.2 x 9.1 x 5.9 inch
€248
Mirrors of Memory
Harutyun Aghajanyan
Painting - 50 x 50 x 2 cm Painting - 19.7 x 19.7 x 0.8 inch
€549
Transient Forms
Harutyun Aghajanyan
Painting - 50 x 50 x 2 cm Painting - 19.7 x 19.7 x 0.8 inch
€549
Atlas & Gold Glove
Dervis Akdemir
Sculpture - 47 x 26 x 29 cm Sculpture - 18.5 x 10.2 x 11.4 inch
€713
Hercules in Flight
Dervis Akdemir
Sculpture - 40 x 29 x 20 cm Sculpture - 15.7 x 11.4 x 7.9 inch
€558
David in Meditation with Neon Design
Dervis Akdemir
Sculpture - 36 x 27 x 12 cm Sculpture - 14.2 x 10.6 x 4.7 inch
€707
Ephémères colorés (N° Inédit)
Jazzu
Painting - 50 x 50 x 2 cm Painting - 19.7 x 19.7 x 0.8 inch
€1,600
Borrowed Time
Brooke Shaden
Photography - 50 x 50 x 0.1 cm Photography - 19.7 x 19.7 x 0 inch
€2,400
The sound if flying souls
Brooke Shaden
Photography - 50 x 50 x 0.1 cm Photography - 19.7 x 19.7 x 0 inch
€2,400