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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Le port de Brigneau, Bretagne réf: CPBD1033
Lucien Gondret
Painting - 38 x 46 x 2 cm Painting - 15 x 18.1 x 0.8 inch
$751
Composition
Jean-Michel Atlan
Fine Art Drawings - 30 x 22 x 0.1 cm Fine Art Drawings - 11.8 x 8.7 x 0 inch
$2,890
Illustration of Epipactis nauosaensis
Lyuben Domozetski
Fine Art Drawings - 28.9 x 21 x 0.2 cm Fine Art Drawings - 11.4 x 8.3 x 0.1 inch
$694
Gato de vuelta
Josep Marí Sintes
Fine Art Drawings - 26 x 33 x 0.1 cm Fine Art Drawings - 10.2 x 13 x 0 inch
$770
Untitled
Agustín Fructuoso
Fine Art Drawings - 28.5 x 37.5 x 0.1 cm Fine Art Drawings - 11.2 x 14.8 x 0 inch
$694
Drawing For Sewing, for a Prayer
Kyung-Sup Byun
Painting - 30 x 30 x 3 cm Painting - 11.8 x 11.8 x 1.2 inch
$1,040
White CH Tribute Candy
Julie Jaler
Sculpture - 40 x 20 x 20 cm Sculpture - 15.7 x 7.9 x 7.9 inch
$809
Les chemins du silence n°2 - série Paysage et forêt
Ursula Durr-Land
Painting - 50 x 50 x 4 cm Painting - 19.7 x 19.7 x 1.6 inch
$659
Sans titre
Adam Nidzgorski
Fine Art Drawings - 29 x 20 x 0.5 cm Fine Art Drawings - 11.4 x 7.9 x 0.2 inch
$751
Soleil, Mer Et Poissons
Mercedes Aparicio
Painting - 35 x 35 x 1.7 cm Painting - 13.8 x 13.8 x 0.7 inch
$2,774
The moment of the eternal everything
William Oxer F.R.S.A.
Painting - 40.6 x 27.9 x 2.5 cm Painting - 16 x 11 x 1 inch
$1,900
Ruisseau de montagne
W. A. Hahn
Painting - 45 x 35 x 0.5 cm Painting - 17.7 x 13.8 x 0.2 inch
$1,319
Etude
Gilbert Pastor
Fine Art Drawings - 10 x 32 x 0.1 cm Fine Art Drawings - 3.9 x 12.6 x 0 inch
$578
Fossile
Xavier Albert Fiala
Fine Art Drawings - 36.5 x 23 x 0.3 cm Fine Art Drawings - 14.4 x 9.1 x 0.1 inch
$715
Series The Image Of Mountain No.1
Bao-Hua Dang
Painting - 40 x 40 x 4 cm Painting - 15.7 x 15.7 x 1.6 inch
$1,040
Cubos Transparencia 2 (Framed)
Rodrigo Spinel
Fine Art Drawings - 25 x 35 x 0.3 cm Fine Art Drawings - 9.8 x 13.8 x 0.1 inch
$700
Sans titre (192)
Zwy Milshtein
Fine Art Drawings - 25 x 36 x 0.1 cm Fine Art Drawings - 9.8 x 14.2 x 0 inch
$1,734
Andy Warhol and Keith Haring
Christopher Makos
Photography - 38.1 x 48.3 cm Photography - 15 x 19 inch
$4,500
Clouds over the Tay Rail Bridge
Alastair Faulkner
Painting - 35 x 45 x 5 cm Painting - 13.8 x 17.7 x 2 inch
$1,965
Orografia 8
Josep María Codina
Fine Art Drawings - 30 x 40 x 5 cm Fine Art Drawings - 11.8 x 15.7 x 2 inch
$925
Masques dansants d'Ensor
Gaëlle Redon
Photography - 40 x 30 x 0.3 cm Photography - 15.7 x 11.8 x 0.1 inch
$786
Rencontre dans le jardin
Anthea Missy
Fine Art Drawings - 36 x 48 x 0.02 cm Fine Art Drawings - 14.2 x 18.9 x 0 inch
$578
Readers series - Philosophy of money
Nikolaus von Wolff
Print - 50 x 50 x 0.1 cm Print - 19.7 x 19.7 x 0 inch
$925
The Chair, Painting, Acrylic on Canvas
Nicole Daniah Sidonie
Painting - 36.1 x 36.1 x 0.3 cm Painting - 14.2 x 14.2 x 0.1 inch
$703
Black Sea Beach
Giorgi Kukhalashvili
Fine Art Drawings - 30 x 41.5 x 0.1 cm Fine Art Drawings - 11.8 x 16.3 x 0 inch
$3,236
Untitled (PEN 04)
Atom Hovhanesyan
Fine Art Drawings - 45.7 x 40.6 x 0.05 cm Fine Art Drawings - 18 x 16 x 0 inch
$80,000
06 - 16 - 1961 - Lobby Cards Series - Red
Pierre-Emmanuel Chatiliez
Print - 39 x 50 cm Print - 15.4 x 19.7 inch
$809
Heads - Ian (Cutout Sculpture)
Julian Opie
Sculpture - 35.8 x 33.9 x 10 cm Sculpture - 14.1 x 13.3 x 3.9 inch
$12,715
Oris 4 (série de 40 têtes)
Kevin-Ademola Sangosanya
Painting - 49 x 33 cm Painting - 19.3 x 13 inch
$1,734
Venise de Chine Suzhou Chinese Venise 1986
Wu Biduan
Print - 32 x 25 cm Print - 12.6 x 9.8 inch
$1,144
Gardien de chevaux 1987 Horses Guardian
Guang Jun
Print - 25 x 32.5 cm Print - 9.8 x 12.8 inch
$1,144
Coastline stones in water
Mikaela Olovsson
Photography - 40 x 30 x 0.1 cm Photography - 15.7 x 11.8 x 0 inch
$341
