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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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Painting, Composition 118, Xiu

Composition 118

Xiu

Painting - 50 x 20 x 1 cm Painting - 19.7 x 7.9 x 0.4 inch

$715

Painting, Warmis, Reinaldo Chavez

Warmis

Reinaldo Chavez

Painting - 40 x 50 cm Painting - 15.7 x 19.7 inch

$858

Sculpture, Music, Milko Dobrev

Music

Milko Dobrev

Sculpture - 32 x 15 x 6 cm Sculpture - 12.6 x 5.9 x 2.4 inch

$2,205

Painting, Dignity, Elizabeth Becker

Dignity

Elizabeth Becker

Painting - 50.8 x 40.6 x 0.3 cm Painting - 20 x 16 x 0.1 inch

$600

Sculpture, Brisure 3, Sezny Peron

Brisure 3

Sezny Peron

Sculpture - 43 x 43 x 3 cm Sculpture - 16.9 x 16.9 x 1.2 inch

$2,027

Painting, Abstract-3127, Ludoroy

Abstract-3127

Ludoroy

Painting - 40 x 30 x 0.1 cm Painting - 15.7 x 11.8 x 0 inch

$775

Painting, Alkes, Eric Robin

Alkes

Eric Robin

Painting - 35 x 35 x 3 cm Painting - 13.8 x 13.8 x 1.2 inch

$954

Sculpture, Instinct, Philip Hearsey

Instinct

Philip Hearsey

Sculpture - 37.05 x 32 x 10 cm Sculpture - 14.6 x 12.6 x 3.9 inch

$4,470

Sculpture, Cycles IV, Philip Hearsey

Cycles IV

Philip Hearsey

Sculpture - 45 x 39 x 10 cm Sculpture - 17.7 x 15.4 x 3.9 inch

$4,882

Painting, Dreams-I, Svetlana Martin

Dreams-I

Svetlana Martin

Painting - 50 x 40 x 2 cm Painting - 19.7 x 15.7 x 0.8 inch

$680

Sculpture, Exclos 266, Guillaume Roche

Exclos 266

Guillaume Roche

Sculpture - 40 x 40 x 26 cm Sculpture - 15.7 x 15.7 x 10.2 inch

$4,649

Painting, Scara, Eric Robin

Scara

Eric Robin

Painting - 50 x 50 x 3 cm Painting - 19.7 x 19.7 x 1.2 inch

$1,967

Painting, Blue hour, Brigitte Dravet

Blue hour

Brigitte Dravet

Painting - 50 x 50 x 4 cm Painting - 19.7 x 19.7 x 1.6 inch

$1,431

Print, Concept #11, Petr Strnad

Concept #11

Petr Strnad

Print - 50 x 33.3 x 0.1 cm Print - 19.7 x 13.1 x 0 inch

$155

Print, Concept #94, Petr Strnad

Concept #94

Petr Strnad

Print - 50 x 33.3 x 0.1 cm Print - 19.7 x 13.1 x 0 inch

$155

Print, Concept #92, Petr Strnad

Concept #92

Petr Strnad

Print - 50 x 33.3 x 0.1 cm Print - 19.7 x 13.1 x 0 inch

$155

Print, Concept #89, Petr Strnad

Concept #89

Petr Strnad

Print - 50 x 33.3 x 0.1 cm Print - 19.7 x 13.1 x 0 inch

$155

Print, Concept #79, Petr Strnad

Concept #79

Petr Strnad

Print - 50 x 33.3 x 0.1 cm Print - 19.7 x 13.1 x 0 inch

$155

Print, Concept #78, Petr Strnad

Concept #78

Petr Strnad

Print - 50 x 33.3 x 0.1 cm Print - 19.7 x 13.1 x 0 inch

$155

Print, Concept #56, Petr Strnad

Concept #56

Petr Strnad

Print - 50 x 33.3 x 0.1 cm Print - 19.7 x 13.1 x 0 inch

$155

Print, Concept #57, Petr Strnad

Concept #57

Petr Strnad

Print - 50 x 33.3 x 0.1 cm Print - 19.7 x 13.1 x 0 inch

$155

Print, Concept #61, Petr Strnad

Concept #61

Petr Strnad

Print - 50 x 33.3 x 0.1 cm Print - 19.7 x 13.1 x 0 inch

$155

Print, Concept #62, Petr Strnad

Concept #62

Petr Strnad

Print - 50 x 33.3 x 0.1 cm Print - 19.7 x 13.1 x 0 inch

$155

Print, Concept #12, Petr Strnad

Concept #12

Petr Strnad

Print - 50 x 33.3 x 0.1 cm Print - 19.7 x 13.1 x 0 inch

$155

Print, Concept #15, Petr Strnad

Concept #15

Petr Strnad

Print - 50 x 33.3 x 0.1 cm Print - 19.7 x 13.1 x 0 inch

$155

Painting, Osmose 06,2, Paul Gallaud

Osmose 06,2

Paul Gallaud

Painting - 40 x 40 x 3 cm Painting - 15.7 x 15.7 x 1.2 inch

$1,431

Sculpture, Chinese star, Li Lihong

Chinese star

Li Lihong

Sculpture - 38 x 38 x 4 cm Sculpture - 15 x 15 x 1.6 inch

$1,073