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Summer on the river
Alisa Onipchenko-Cherniakovska
Painting - 35 x 50 x 2 cm Painting - 13.8 x 19.7 x 0.8 inch
$950
The sea sees its reflection in the sky
Alvaro Petritoli
Painting - 41 x 45 x 3 cm Painting - 16.1 x 17.7 x 1.2 inch
$989
12 series - Spring ladybird
Alvaro Petritoli
Painting - 45 x 45 x 3 cm Painting - 17.7 x 17.7 x 1.2 inch
$1,573
12 series - Icy wood
Alvaro Petritoli
Painting - 45 x 45 x 3 cm Painting - 17.7 x 17.7 x 1.2 inch
$1,247
12 series - Blue so faraway so close
Alvaro Petritoli
Painting - 45 x 45 x 3 cm Painting - 17.7 x 17.7 x 1.2 inch
$910
Moon night cloud
Alvaro Petritoli
Painting - 31 x 39 x 3 cm Painting - 12.2 x 15.4 x 1.2 inch
$1,247
Moon, Amber aura
Alvaro Petritoli
Painting - 31 x 39 x 3 cm Painting - 12.2 x 15.4 x 1.2 inch
$1,517
Moon, Silver aura
Alvaro Petritoli
Painting - 37 x 48 x 3 cm Painting - 14.6 x 18.9 x 1.2 inch
$1,573
Moon somewhere in between
Alvaro Petritoli
Painting - 37 x 37 x 3 cm Painting - 14.6 x 14.6 x 1.2 inch
$1,303
Moon willow low mist
Alvaro Petritoli
Painting - 31 x 33 x 3 cm Painting - 12.2 x 13 x 1.2 inch
$1,303
La vie est belle
Bernard Saint-Maxent
Painting - 29 x 24 x 3 cm Painting - 11.4 x 9.4 x 1.2 inch
$326
Life is Beautiful (Sticker Fragile)
Mr Brainwash
Sculpture - 28 x 14 x 4 cm Sculpture - 11 x 5.5 x 1.6 inch
$5,955
Big bang sur papier 18
Joëlle Kem Lika
Painting - 50 x 50 x 0.1 cm Painting - 19.7 x 19.7 x 0 inch
$472
On the Horizon (A l'Horizon)
Bruno Cantais
Painting - 35 x 27 x 2 cm Painting - 13.8 x 10.6 x 0.8 inch
$169
Voyage au fil du temps
Sylvie Gedda
Painting - 40 x 40 x 2 cm Painting - 15.7 x 15.7 x 0.8 inch
$1,528
Le soleil joue avec la lune
Sylvie Gedda
Painting - 40 x 40 x 2 cm Painting - 15.7 x 15.7 x 0.8 inch
$1,528
Les fiancés version 3 / The lovers
Sophie Verger
Sculpture - 34.5 x 21 x 18.5 cm Sculpture - 13.6 x 8.3 x 7.3 inch
$3,933
Goldorak Contre Mesnager
Jérôme Mesnager
Painting - 40 x 30 x 0.02 cm Painting - 15.7 x 11.8 x 0 inch
Sold
Exotic Emperor Tulip II (S)
Tyler Shields
Photography - 45.7 x 45.7 cm Photography - 18 x 18 inch
$2,500
The Coastal Sentinels
Narek Qochunc
Painting - 50 x 50 x 2 cm Painting - 19.7 x 19.7 x 0.8 inch
$380
Phonebooth Silhouette (XS)
Tyler Shields
Photography - 38.1 x 50.8 cm Photography - 15 x 20 inch
$2,500
Two Glasses of Champagne (S)
Tyler Shields
Photography - 45.7 x 45.7 cm Photography - 18 x 18 inch
$2,500
The Two Step Silhouette (S)
Tyler Shields
Photography - 45.7 x 45.7 cm Photography - 18 x 18 inch
$2,500
Graphismes sur Ondulations Métalliques
Rita Di Benedetto
Painting - 30 x 30 x 5 cm Painting - 11.8 x 11.8 x 2 inch
$449
Formation Cratères
Rita Di Benedetto
Painting - 30 x 40 x 2 cm Painting - 11.8 x 15.7 x 0.8 inch
$449
Cratères sur Ondulations 2
Rita Di Benedetto
Painting - 30 x 40 x 2 cm Painting - 11.8 x 15.7 x 0.8 inch
$449
Entre Ciel et Terre
Rita Di Benedetto
Painting - 50 x 50 x 3 cm Painting - 19.7 x 19.7 x 1.2 inch
$449
The Lady and the Lion (S)
Tyler Shields
Photography - 45.7 x 45.7 cm Photography - 18 x 18 inch
$2,500
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…