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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Les espaces de Penseur de Rodin
Jesus Campos
Sculpture - 30 x 14 x 15 cm Sculpture - 11.8 x 5.5 x 5.9 inch
$1,264
Paesaggio poetico XXIV
Daniela Pasqualini
Painting - 50.8 x 50.8 x 3.8 cm Painting - 20 x 20 x 1.5 inch
$600
El Hadj Seck, jaune
Baptiste Laurent
Sculpture - 30 x 20 x 15 cm Sculpture - 11.8 x 7.9 x 5.9 inch
$936
Édition Toujours Marilyn 50 RED
Miguel Guía
Print - 50 x 50 x 0.3 cm Print - 19.7 x 19.7 x 0.1 inch
$819
Parallel Universe/3
Viktoria Ganhao
Painting - 40 x 30 x 0.1 cm Painting - 15.7 x 11.8 x 0 inch
$620
Degas Danseur de Ballet
Martín Duque
Sculpture - 44 x 16 x 20 cm Sculpture - 17.3 x 6.3 x 7.9 inch
$1,147
Geometrical shapes III
Aurélie Trabaud
Painting - 19 x 27 x 0.1 cm Painting - 7.5 x 10.6 x 0 inch
$679
Maiko in Springtime Kyoto
Takashi Murakami
Print - 50 x 50 x 0.1 cm Print - 19.7 x 19.7 x 0 inch
$2,842
Ma femme est une fête, 17
Emmanuel Pons
Painting - 32 x 26 x 2.5 cm Painting - 12.6 x 10.2 x 1 inch
$924
Sans titre
Maria Helena Vieira da Silva
Print - 50 x 34.9 x 0.02 cm Print - 19.7 x 13.7 x 0 inch
$1,755
Welcome to the colorful side
Bernard Saint-Maxent
Painting - 50 x 50 x 6 cm Painting - 19.7 x 19.7 x 2.4 inch
$1,755
La Cage et la trace du crayon
Sandra Chevrier
Print - 36 x 30.5 x 0.1 cm Print - 14.2 x 12 x 0 inch
$2,340
55.6559834, 27.1339613
Katsiaryna Sumarava
Painting - 40 x 50 x 2 cm Painting - 15.7 x 19.7 x 0.8 inch
$936
Tired face (Black Edition)
Santicri
Sculpture - 32 x 17 x 9 cm Sculpture - 12.6 x 6.7 x 3.5 inch
$690
Sans titre (9)
Franciszek Starowieyski
Painting - 32 x 22.7 x 0.1 cm Painting - 12.6 x 8.9 x 0 inch
$877
Abstract Expression
Giorgio Lo Fermo
Painting - 37 x 27 x 0.5 cm Painting - 14.6 x 10.6 x 0.2 inch
$702
Tulip Fields Netherlands #05
Bernhard Lang
Painting - 40 x 40 x 2 cm Painting - 15.7 x 15.7 x 0.8 inch
$690
Calligraphie Violette 71-19
Philippe Buil
Sculpture - 36 x 26 x 7 cm Sculpture - 14.2 x 10.2 x 2.8 inch
$1,111
Cascade et tumulte, les Gorges du Loup
Claude Schürr
Painting - 46 x 38 x 2.5 cm Painting - 18.1 x 15 x 1 inch
$3,042
Océan 23011
Laurence Hubswerlin Diradourian
Painting - 50 x 50 x 3.5 cm Painting - 19.7 x 19.7 x 1.4 inch
$911
Intermezzo 3.
Bernadette Van Baarsen
Painting - 20 x 50 x 3.5 cm Painting - 7.9 x 19.7 x 1.4 inch
$936 $842
Sandrine Bonnaire
Arnaud Baumann
Photography - 40 x 40 x 0.1 cm Photography - 15.7 x 15.7 x 0 inch
$702
Clin d’œil, rêve d’un monde…
Marie-Odile Wagner
Print - 31 x 25 x 0.1 cm Print - 12.2 x 9.8 x 0 inch
$304
A piece of Mother Earth #2
Charlotte Orel
Painting - 39 x 39 x 1.5 cm Painting - 15.4 x 15.4 x 0.6 inch
$877
Red leaf
Kitikong Tilokwattanotai
Painting - 31 x 26 x 3 cm Painting - 12.2 x 10.2 x 1.2 inch
$1,872
Le Cavalier (petit)(bronze)
Antoniucci Volti
Sculpture - 47 x 43 x 14 cm Sculpture - 18.5 x 16.9 x 5.5 inch
$13,455
Quand les mystères sont très malins
Yves Brayer
Print - 22.5 x 30.5 x 0.1 cm Print - 8.9 x 12 x 0 inch
$585