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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Manufactura 3
Oriol Texidor
Photography - 40 x 50 x 7 cm Photography - 15.7 x 19.7 x 2.8 inch
€1,260
Luke McAlister
Clément Poitrenaud
Photography - 30 x 30 x 0.1 cm Photography - 11.8 x 11.8 x 0 inch
€1,100
Secret Invasion
Lenil Yu
Fine Art Drawings - 44 x 28 x 1 cm Fine Art Drawings - 17.3 x 11 x 0.4 inch
€2,600
Twickenham Streaker
Ian Bradshaw
Photography - 30 x 42.5 x 0.1 cm Photography - 11.8 x 16.7 x 0 inch
€1,950
Amazing Spiderman
Mike McKone
Fine Art Drawings - 44 x 28 x 1 cm Fine Art Drawings - 17.3 x 11 x 0.4 inch
€2,200
Mexico
Lucas Ninin
Fine Art Drawings - 17 x 28 x 0.2 cm Fine Art Drawings - 6.7 x 11 x 0.1 inch
Sold
Chartres dans les colzas
Michel Maly
Painting - 27 x 41 x 2 cm Painting - 10.6 x 16.1 x 0.8 inch
€3,699
Uncanny X-Force
Mark Brooks
Fine Art Drawings - 43 x 28 x 1 cm Fine Art Drawings - 16.9 x 11 x 0.4 inch
€1,800
Eléphantasme organique
Anis Dargaa
Sculpture - 36 x 29 x 12 cm Sculpture - 14.2 x 11.4 x 4.7 inch
€18,000
Collage on paper Lullaby for a cat.
Ekaterina Shitova
Painting - 21 x 29 x 0.1 cm Painting - 8.3 x 11.4 x 0 inch
€75
Gallinacean III
Brigitte Chombart de Lauwe
Fine Art Drawings - 40 x 50 x 2 cm Fine Art Drawings - 15.7 x 19.7 x 0.8 inch
€680
Poüèt King
Poüèt
Fine Art Drawings - 30 x 21 x 1 cm Fine Art Drawings - 11.8 x 8.3 x 0.4 inch
€70 €63
Plan métro "City of Graffitty"
Eskos
Painting - 31 x 50 x 2 cm Painting - 12.2 x 19.7 x 0.8 inch
€250
Sourire au clair d'un sourire
La Fabrique du Sourire
Print - 30 x 30 cm Print - 11.8 x 11.8 inch
€125
Femme enroulée 1
Changzheng Zhu
Fine Art Drawings - 38 x 38 x 0.1 cm Fine Art Drawings - 15 x 15 x 0 inch
€125
Liberation
Tatjana Rusakova
Fine Art Drawings - 28 x 28 x 0.1 cm Fine Art Drawings - 11 x 11 x 0 inch
€80
Menina Air et Métal Nickel Rouge
Miguel Guía
Sculpture - 40 x 21 x 37 cm Sculpture - 15.7 x 8.3 x 14.6 inch
€1,580
Hombre de la Luna
James Sparshatt
Photography - 50 x 50 x 1 cm Photography - 19.7 x 19.7 x 0.4 inch
€734
Huir por las esquinas y encerrarse en los
Josep Guinovart
Print - 47 x 49 cm Print - 18.5 x 19.3 inch
€500
Asesinado por el cielo, entre las formas que van
Josep Guinovart
Print - 47 x 49 cm Print - 18.5 x 19.3 inch
€500
A la izquierda, a la derecha, por el sur y por el norte
Josep Guinovart
Print - 47 x 49 cm Print - 18.5 x 19.3 inch
€500
A tu violencia granate, sordomudos en la penumbra
Josep Guinovart
Print - 47 x 49 cm Print - 18.5 x 19.3 inch
€500
Théorèmes #1
Nagsoul
Fine Art Drawings - 22 x 32 x 0.1 cm Fine Art Drawings - 8.7 x 12.6 x 0 inch
€800
Cloned Griffon Bruxellois With Pet Bottle
William Sweetlove
Sculpture - 40 x 40 x 18 cm Sculpture - 15.7 x 15.7 x 7.1 inch
€1,400
Cloned Griffon Bruxellois with Pet Bottle
William Sweetlove
Sculpture - 40 x 40 x 18 cm Sculpture - 15.7 x 15.7 x 7.1 inch
€1,400
Mémoire de JingDeZhen
Feng Hatat
Photography - 30 x 45 x 1 cm Photography - 11.8 x 17.7 x 0.4 inch
€600
Mémoire de JingDeZhen
Feng Hatat
Photography - 32 x 48 x 1 cm Photography - 12.6 x 18.9 x 0.4 inch
€600
Mémoire de JingDeZhen
Feng Hatat
Photography - 32 x 48 x 1 cm Photography - 12.6 x 18.9 x 0.4 inch
€600
Mémoire de JingDeZhen
Feng Hatat
Photography - 32 x 48 x 1 cm Photography - 12.6 x 18.9 x 0.4 inch
€600
Deconstruction
Nagsoul
Fine Art Drawings - 26 x 36 x 3 cm Fine Art Drawings - 10.2 x 14.2 x 1.2 inch
€500
El Revolucionario
James Sparshatt
Photography - 50 x 50 x 1 cm Photography - 19.7 x 19.7 x 0.4 inch
€980
El caballero
James Sparshatt
Photography - 35 x 35 x 1 cm Photography - 13.8 x 13.8 x 0.4 inch
€1,356
