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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Autoportrait 3
Jean-Michel Pradel-Fraysse
Sculpture - 45 x 35 x 35 cm Sculpture - 17.7 x 13.8 x 13.8 inch
$11,559
Dedicated to Botticelli 4
Olga Marciano
Painting - 30 x 30 x 1 cm Painting - 11.8 x 11.8 x 0.4 inch
$925
Shining Loneliness
Tetiana Shendryk
Painting - 50 x 50 x 1.5 cm Painting - 19.7 x 19.7 x 0.6 inch
$694
Emotions of Crossed Fingers - Portrait of Asia Girl
Max Skoblinsky
Painting - 40 x 30 x 2 cm Painting - 15.7 x 11.8 x 0.8 inch
$1,734
Portrait de Leopold Zborowski (d'après)
Amedeo Modigliani
Print - 46 x 30 x 0.2 cm Print - 18.1 x 11.8 x 0.1 inch
$1,387
Lou dans la cuisine à Vergisson
Marc Dailly
Painting - 38 x 28 x 2 cm Painting - 15 x 11 x 0.8 inch
$1,618
The guiding light, Painting, Acrylic on canvas
Amy Bernays
Painting - 30.5 x 40.6 x 0.3 cm Painting - 12 x 16 x 0.1 inch
$828
A Look Inside the Mirror
Nazar Ivanyuk
Painting - 38 x 32 x 0.2 cm Painting - 15 x 12.6 x 0.1 inch
$925
Toi et Moi
Lali Kakubava
Fine Art Drawings - 21 x 29.7 x 0.1 cm Fine Art Drawings - 8.3 x 11.7 x 0 inch
$578
Moine bouddhiste avec un jeune novice
The opium smoking white elephant
Painting - 50 x 40 cm Painting - 19.7 x 15.7 inch
$925
Paradis perdu, âme dévorée
Blu_451
Fine Art Drawings - 38 x 29 x 1 cm Fine Art Drawings - 15 x 11.4 x 0.4 inch
$520
Framed Color Face II
Jens-Christian Wittig
Painting - 50.8 x 50.8 x 2.5 cm Painting - 20 x 20 x 1 inch
$4,500
Woman Hiking up her Dress
Christian Frederiksen
Painting - 40 x 25 x 0.1 cm Painting - 15.7 x 9.8 x 0 inch
$1,087
When the world is in your hands
MKate
Painting - 45 x 35 x 2 cm Painting - 17.7 x 13.8 x 0.8 inch
$700
yellow pylon worker
Jean-Jacques Mancardi
Sculpture - 36 x 25.5 x 16 cm Sculpture - 14.2 x 10 x 6.3 inch
$3,699
Spring scent
Rumiana Rusinova
Sculpture - 34.5 x 14.5 x 9.5 cm Sculpture - 13.6 x 5.7 x 3.7 inch
$2,427
Dante's Reflection
Aghvan Sahakyan
Sculpture - 38 x 24 x 24 cm Sculpture - 15 x 9.4 x 9.4 inch
$3,000
Frau - Woman
Stephan Balkenhol
Sculpture - 32 x 10 x 10 cm Sculpture - 12.6 x 3.9 x 3.9 inch
$10,981
Sculpture Ethnie - Femme africaine orange rouge caramel avec bébé devant
Atelier Piquifou
Sculpture - 44 x 10 x 5 cm Sculpture - 17.3 x 3.9 x 2 inch
$578
Exoplanet #39 (Portrait of a Pupil) (Abduction)
Barbara Fragogna
Painting - 50 x 45 x 2 cm Painting - 19.7 x 17.7 x 0.8 inch
$2,774
Verdolini il Celebre Masseur
Nicola Simbari
Fine Art Drawings - 30 x 22.5 x 0.1 cm Fine Art Drawings - 11.8 x 8.9 x 0 inch
$867
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
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
Andy Warhol and Keith Haring
Christopher Makos
Photography - 38.1 x 48.3 cm Photography - 15 x 19 inch
$4,500
L'oublié de l'avenir
Jean-Pierre Walter
Painting - 40 x 30 x 2 cm Painting - 15.7 x 11.8 x 0.8 inch
$1,133
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
