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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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
$2,059
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
$2,774
Carrosse d'amour
Albena Vatcheva
Painting - 40 x 40 x 2 cm Painting - 15.7 x 15.7 x 0.8 inch
$665 $632
Peace Out Astronaut
Dervis Akdemir
Sculpture - 48 x 35 x 14 cm Sculpture - 18.9 x 13.8 x 5.5 inch
$412
Mirrors of Memory
Harutyun Aghajanyan
Painting - 50 x 50 x 2 cm Painting - 19.7 x 19.7 x 0.8 inch
$600
Transient Forms
Harutyun Aghajanyan
Painting - 50 x 50 x 2 cm Painting - 19.7 x 19.7 x 0.8 inch
$600
Black Curves Modern
Dervis Akdemir
Sculpture - 32 x 10 x 10 cm Sculpture - 12.6 x 3.9 x 3.9 inch
$343
Augmenter le taux des échanges amoureux
Miss.Tic
Print - 32 x 42 x 2 cm Print - 12.6 x 16.5 x 0.8 inch
$2,312
Might of nature: The Herculean naturalistic bust 1/1
Dervis Akdemir
Sculpture - 40 x 29 x 16 cm Sculpture - 15.7 x 11.4 x 6.3 inch
$1,304
Borrowed Time
Brooke Shaden
Photography - 50 x 50 x 0.1 cm Photography - 19.7 x 19.7 x 0 inch
$2,774
The sound if flying souls
Brooke Shaden
Photography - 50 x 50 x 0.1 cm Photography - 19.7 x 19.7 x 0 inch
$2,774
Marc Jacobs fall 2020
Manuel Santelices
Painting - 30.5 x 22.9 x 0.3 cm Painting - 12 x 9 x 0.1 inch
$700
Alessandro Michelle yellow
Manuel Santelices
Painting - 30.5 x 22.9 x 0.3 cm Painting - 12 x 9 x 0.1 inch
$700
Amal, George Clooney and Julia Roberts
Manuel Santelices
Painting - 22.9 x 30.5 x 0.3 cm Painting - 9 x 12 x 0.1 inch
$600
Orince Eagle (After a Photograph by Elizabeth Peyton)
Manuel Santelices
Painting - 30.5 x 22.9 x 0.3 cm Painting - 12 x 9 x 0.1 inch
$600
Pierpaolo Piccioli for Moncler
Manuel Santelices
Painting - 38.1 x 27.9 cm Painting - 15 x 11 inch
$700
Geisha ll
Teo Franco
Fine Art Drawings - 42 x 29.7 x 0.1 cm Fine Art Drawings - 16.5 x 11.7 x 0 inch
$636
Prada Bag Ladies
Manuel Santelices
Painting - 30.5 x 22.9 x 0.3 cm Painting - 12 x 9 x 0.1 inch
$700
Résistant
Baptiste Laurent
Fine Art Drawings - 50 x 35 x 0.3 cm Fine Art Drawings - 19.7 x 13.8 x 0.1 inch
$1,271
Gamin à la lance
Baptiste Laurent
Fine Art Drawings - 50 x 35 x 0.3 cm Fine Art Drawings - 19.7 x 13.8 x 0.1 inch
$1,271
Oeil clos orange face
Baptiste Laurent
Fine Art Drawings - 50 x 35 x 0.3 cm Fine Art Drawings - 19.7 x 13.8 x 0.1 inch
$1,271
Ephémères colorés (N° Inédit)
Jazzu
Painting - 50 x 50 x 2 cm Painting - 19.7 x 19.7 x 0.8 inch
$1,849
El Revolucionario
James Sparshatt
Photography - 50 x 50 x 1 cm Photography - 19.7 x 19.7 x 0.4 inch
$1,091
El caballero
James Sparshatt
Photography - 35 x 35 x 1 cm Photography - 13.8 x 13.8 x 0.4 inch
$1,304
Magic Game, no. VI/VIII
Joanna Zakrzewska-Cholewa
Sculpture - 43 x 15 x 6 cm Sculpture - 16.9 x 5.9 x 2.4 inch
$2,196
Cosmic Messenger: The rustic Hermes bust 1/1
Dervis Akdemir
Sculpture - 50 x 36 x 16 cm Sculpture - 19.7 x 14.2 x 6.3 inch
$1,030
Aquarium at Coney Island, Ny
Michael K. Yamaoka
Photography - 50.8 x 50.8 x 0.1 cm Photography - 20 x 20 x 0.04 inch
$2,750
Cheveux d'Encre Peace
Feng Kaixuan
Photography - 30 x 45 x 1 cm Photography - 11.8 x 17.7 x 0.4 inch
$832
Mother and child
Strashevich Alexander
Painting - 50 x 50 x 2 cm Painting - 19.7 x 19.7 x 0.8 inch
$740
Might of nature: The Herculean naturalistic bust 1/1
Dervis Akdemir
Sculpture - 40 x 29 x 16 cm Sculpture - 15.7 x 11.4 x 6.3 inch
$1,304
Petite pomme F1
Virginia Benedicto
Sculpture - 30 x 30 x 30 cm Sculpture - 11.8 x 11.8 x 11.8 inch
$2,196
Sans titre
Vladimir Velickovic
Fine Art Drawings - 32.5 x 22.5 cm Fine Art Drawings - 12.8 x 8.9 inch
$1,329
The Missing Link
Lieven D'Haese
Sculpture - 49 x 28 x 35 cm Sculpture - 19.3 x 11 x 13.8 inch
$7,744
Portrait de classe 20
Camille Cottier
Painting - 27.5 x 22.5 x 2 cm Painting - 10.8 x 8.9 x 0.8 inch
$925