
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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Pop Art Communication x Haring x 24/7 (yellow)
Ad Van Hassel
Sculpture - 33 x 10 x 10 cm Sculpture - 13 x 3.9 x 3.9 inch
$263



Geotropisme 19
Frédérick Mazoir
Fine Art Drawings - 30 x 40 x 0.1 cm Fine Art Drawings - 11.8 x 15.7 x 0 inch
$374







21DM0105
Jean-Michel Ribeyrolles
Sculpture - 45 x 45 x 5.5 cm Sculpture - 17.7 x 17.7 x 2.2 inch
$2,083


Waiting here 1010
Cédric Bouteiller
Painting - 50 x 50 x 1 cm Painting - 19.7 x 19.7 x 0.4 inch
$5,265



Analog (Abstract painting)
Pat McDermott
Painting - 38.1 x 38.1 x 4.4 cm Painting - 15 x 15 x 1.7 inch
$2,227


Sans titre - série paysage et végétal
Muriel Hériveau
Painting - 50 x 50 x 4 cm Painting - 19.7 x 19.7 x 1.6 inch
$772

La montée des eaux
Fabienne Cresens
Photography - 40 x 40 x 4 cm Photography - 15.7 x 15.7 x 1.6 inch
$585






Balloon Rabbit (Violet)
Jeff Koons
Sculpture - 29 x 14 x 21 cm Sculpture - 11.4 x 5.5 x 8.3 inch
$20,475


Jour et nuit (ermioni 4h-5h)
Akira Inumaru
Painting - 24 x 35 x 2 cm Painting - 9.4 x 13.8 x 0.8 inch
$760


Le drapeau révolutionnaire 1989 Revolution flag
Alexis Gorodine
Print - 28 x 25.5 cm Print - 11 x 10 inch
$877


Takashi Murakami × ComplexCon Mr.DOB Figure by Bait × Switch Collectibles (Gold Edition)
Takashi Murakami
Sculpture - 27.4 x 23.5 x 23.5 cm Sculpture - 10.8 x 9.3 x 9.3 inch
$5,850



E=M love au carré - 2
In Love Street Art
Painting - 20 x 27.5 x 0.8 cm Painting - 7.9 x 10.8 x 0.3 inch
$643






Composition en noir
Ladislas Kijno
Fine Art Drawings - 31 x 24 x 0.2 cm Fine Art Drawings - 12.2 x 9.4 x 0.1 inch
$2,925

The saxophonist from the Star Wars bar
Daniil Danailov
Sculpture - 38 x 25.5 x 25.5 cm Sculpture - 15 x 10 x 10 inch
$760

Central Park View II
Ruslana Levandovska
Painting - 40.6 x 50.8 x 1.9 cm Painting - 16 x 20 x 0.75 inch
$1,800


La Plage - série bord de mer
Carla PM
Painting - 31 x 23 x 3 cm Painting - 12.2 x 9.1 x 1.2 inch
$456



Calligrammes, by Guillaume Apollinaire and Giorgio De Chirico
Giorgio de Chirico
Print - 33.3 x 25 x 10 cm Print - 13.1 x 9.8 x 3.9 inch
$98,279



La Nascita, Milano Centrale, Italie
JR
Photography - 31 x 41 x 0.01 cm Photography - 12.2 x 16.1 x 0 inch
$1,403

Temps moderne - série invention bronze
Mireille Bassier-Tilmont
Sculpture - 20 x 37 x 11 cm Sculpture - 7.9 x 14.6 x 4.3 inch
$585


Wagner
Ernest Pignon-Ernest
Fine Art Drawings - 36 x 40 cm Fine Art Drawings - 14.2 x 15.7 inch
$21,060


Des vices
Philippe Huart
Fine Art Drawings - 26 x 18 x 0.5 cm Fine Art Drawings - 10.2 x 7.1 x 0.2 inch
$1,404


Emotion 20200530
Yaki Li
Fine Art Drawings - 29.7 x 21 x 0.1 cm Fine Art Drawings - 11.7 x 8.3 x 0 inch
$216


Cornflowers and Phloxes
Yuriy Demiyanov
Painting - 40 x 50 x 3 cm Painting - 15.7 x 19.7 x 1.2 inch
$1,521

Senza titolo
Sandro Chia
Sculpture - 34.5 x 37.7 x 30.7 cm Sculpture - 13.6 x 14.8 x 12.1 inch
$35,100


Étude pour un paysage idéal
Franciszek Starowieyski
Fine Art Drawings - 31 x 42 cm Fine Art Drawings - 12.2 x 16.5 inch
$1,404

















1985 Sculpture Cubintra
Blaise Simon Balazs
Sculpture - 40 x 40 x 1 cm Sculpture - 15.7 x 15.7 x 0.4 inch
$1,111




Helping Hand, Charming Snakes and Earth Needs Us Both. Ceramic Vase sculptures
Alex Hodge
Design - 22.1 x 39.4 x 6.4 cm Design - 8.7 x 15.5 x 2.5 inch
$2,450

Chromointerference Circulaire B
Carlos Cruz-Diez
Sculpture - 50 x 50 x 2 cm Sculpture - 19.7 x 19.7 x 0.8 inch
$18,720

Still Life - Abstract Series (unique mixed media on paper), 2010
Peter Max
Painting - 27.9 x 21.6 x 0.3 cm Painting - 11 x 8.5 x 0.1 inch
$2,950






Autumn Leaves Abstraction 1
Maxwell Stevens
Painting - 16.1 x 30.5 x 0.6 cm Painting - 6.3 x 12 x 0.2 inch
$936

Echoes Stir Unsummoned
Irit Epstein
Painting - 45.7 x 35.6 x 3.8 cm Painting - 18 x 14 x 1.5 inch
$727