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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William F. Buckley and Pat Buckley at home in NY. From the Interiors series
Manuel Santelices
Fine Art Drawings - 35.6 x 27.9 x 0.3 cm Fine Art Drawings - 14 x 11 x 0.1 inch
$1,200
Astérix et Obélix
Shokkobo Popart
Painting - 36 x 36 x 0.2 cm Painting - 14.2 x 14.2 x 0.1 inch
$572 $515
Pyramid (hand signed three dimensional screen print)
Roy Lichtenstein
Print - 37.5 x 50.2 x 50.2 cm Print - 14.75 x 19.75 x 19.75 inch
$24,500
I scream Kelly (lime)
Sanuj Birla
Sculpture - 40.6 x 25.4 x 20.3 cm Sculpture - 16 x 10 x 8 inch
$1,250
Un sourire
Alexandre Moore Rockefeller
Painting - 36 x 48.5 x 0.6 cm Painting - 14.2 x 19.1 x 0.2 inch
$1,788
International Volunteer Day (hand signed)
Keith Haring
Print - 27.9 x 21.6 x 0.3 cm Print - 11 x 8.5 x 0.1 inch
$14,950
Un coup de dés jamais n'abolira le hasard - train
Hervé Di Rosa
Print - 40 x 35 x 1.5 cm Print - 15.7 x 13.8 x 0.6 inch
$536
Dance Love YP x Keith Haring
Keith Haring
Design - 37 x 40 x 4 cm Design - 14.6 x 15.7 x 1.6 inch
$417
Mickey Finger Design
Dervis Akdemir
Sculpture - 34 x 14 x 10 cm Sculpture - 13.4 x 5.5 x 3.9 inch
$309
Radiant Baby YP x Keith Haring
Keith Haring
Design - 36 x 50 x 4 cm Design - 14.2 x 19.7 x 1.6 inch
$525 $472
Raw Orange, Epreuve d'artiste
Richard Orlinski
Print - 50 x 50 x 0.1 cm Print - 19.7 x 19.7 x 0 inch
$1,180
Luxury Art Toffee Supreme White
Ad Van Hassel
Sculpture - 33 x 10 x 10 cm Sculpture - 13 x 3.9 x 3.9 inch
$268
Homage to Jackon Pollock (blue)
Ad Van Hassel
Sculpture - 33 x 10 x 10 cm Sculpture - 13 x 3.9 x 3.9 inch
$268
I will try
Yohan Storti
Fine Art Drawings - 27.9 x 41 x 0.1 cm Fine Art Drawings - 11 x 16.1 x 0 inch
$596
Ice cream richie (Hand-Finished), 2024
Alec Monopoly
Sculpture - 30 x 20 x 20 cm Sculpture - 11.8 x 7.9 x 7.9 inch
$5,365
![Painting, Utopia [A reached target is no longer a target], Ada Zachi](https://media.artsper.com/artwork/2319272_1_grid.jpg)
Utopia [A reached target is no longer a target]
Ada Zachi
Painting - 42 x 29.7 x 3 cm Painting - 16.5 x 11.7 x 1.2 inch
$2,265
Hommage to LV - Black / Silver
Ad Van Hassel
Sculpture - 33 x 10 x 10 cm Sculpture - 13 x 3.9 x 3.9 inch
$268
Love will save the world II
Xiaoyang Galas
Painting - 50 x 50 x 4.1 cm Painting - 19.7 x 19.7 x 1.6 inch
$1,830
Hommage to LV Leather - Brown
Ad Van Hassel
Sculpture - 33 x 10 x 10 cm Sculpture - 13 x 3.9 x 3.9 inch
$268
Hommage to LV Leather - Black
Ad Van Hassel
Sculpture - 33 x 10 x 10 cm Sculpture - 13 x 3.9 x 3.9 inch
$268
The Pop Vibe Of Fashion II
Alejandro Moretti
Sculpture - 40 x 29 x 12.5 cm Sculpture - 15.7 x 11.4 x 4.9 inch
$656
Spider-square - Série pop colorée
Selda Soyut dit Selda
Painting - 30 x 30 x 2 cm Painting - 11.8 x 11.8 x 0.8 inch
$745
Plus près de mon étoile - Série pop colorée
Selda Soyut dit Selda
Painting - 30 x 30 x 2 cm Painting - 11.8 x 11.8 x 0.8 inch
$745
La team tik-tok - Série pop colorée
Selda Soyut dit Selda
Painting - 30 x 30 x 2 cm Painting - 11.8 x 11.8 x 0.8 inch
$745
Remonter le tunnel _ Série pop colorée
Selda Soyut dit Selda
Painting - 30 x 30 x 2 cm Painting - 11.8 x 11.8 x 0.8 inch
$745