Soleil blanc
Tatiana Ivchenkova
Painting - 40 x 40 x 2 cm Painting - 15.7 x 15.7 x 0.8 inch
$1,192 $1,073
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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Icecream YSL White Black Gold
Studio Snek
Design - 27 x 23 x 6 cm Design - 10.6 x 9.1 x 2.4 inch
Sold
XXIX Physalis
Zornitsa Gramkova
Photography - 30 x 25 x 0.1 cm Photography - 11.8 x 9.8 x 0 inch
$197 $178
With a kitten in hand
Sasha Katinauskiene
Painting - 50 x 40 x 3 cm Painting - 19.7 x 15.7 x 1.2 inch
$1,192 $1,073
Luxe Chat & Volupté 2
Stephanie Godann
Painting - 27.5 x 27.5 x 3 cm Painting - 10.8 x 10.8 x 1.2 inch
$417 $376
La fillette au cœur qui s'envole Love
Ravi
Sculpture - 40 x 15 x 8 cm Sculpture - 15.7 x 5.9 x 3.1 inch
$179 $161
Guerrier d'outremer
Bat'Art
Sculpture - 31 x 18 x 25 cm Sculpture - 12.2 x 7.1 x 9.8 inch
$2,384 $2,146
Col de San Stefano
Sébastien Castillo
Photography - 20 x 30 x 1 cm Photography - 7.9 x 11.8 x 0.4 inch
$262
Tête de Ventasuso
Sébastien Castillo
Photography - 20 x 30 x 1 cm Photography - 7.9 x 11.8 x 0.4 inch
$262
Quand ma matrioshka rencontre Munch
Fridouch'ka
Painting - 40 x 30 x 1 cm Painting - 15.7 x 11.8 x 0.4 inch
$155 $139
Water Field. Mixte Sous Epoxy
Patrice Tabouret
Painting - 30 x 25 x 0.5 cm Painting - 11.8 x 9.8 x 0.2 inch
$298
La mer des Rêves round edition 1/50
Vivianne Paris Panigiris
Sculpture - 30 x 30 x 3 cm Sculpture - 11.8 x 11.8 x 1.2 inch
$954
La Mer Des Rêves - Single edition
Vivianne Paris Panigiris
Sculpture - 35 x 35 x 5 cm Sculpture - 13.8 x 13.8 x 2 inch
$1,311
Flowering in the vineyard - Tuscany painting landscape
Roberto Gai
Painting - 50 x 50 x 2 cm Painting - 19.7 x 19.7 x 0.8 inch
Sold
La Mer Des Rêves - Single Canva
Vivianne Paris Panigiris
Sculpture - 30 x 25 x 3 cm Sculpture - 11.8 x 9.8 x 1.2 inch
$1,192
Fondazione Prada 2
Sergey Bondarev
Painting - 40 x 50 x 2 cm Painting - 15.7 x 19.7 x 0.8 inch
$4,172
Fondazione Prada 1
Sergey Bondarev
Painting - 40 x 50 x 2 cm Painting - 15.7 x 19.7 x 0.8 inch
$4,172
La Mer Des Rêves - Triptych round edition (11)
Vivianne Paris Panigiris
Sculpture - 40 x 40 x 3 cm Sculpture - 15.7 x 15.7 x 1.2 inch
$3,433
Altitude 02
Hengki Koentjoro
Photography - 43 x 43 x 0.1 cm Photography - 16.9 x 16.9 x 0 inch
$1,133
La Mer Des Rêves - Round Edition
Vivianne Paris Panigiris
Sculpture - 40 x 40 x 5 cm Sculpture - 15.7 x 15.7 x 2 inch
$1,907
Désert Multidimensionnel
Vivianne Paris Panigiris
Sculpture - 30 x 25 x 3 cm Sculpture - 11.8 x 9.8 x 1.2 inch
$1,192
Astratto informale
Ivana Urso
Fine Art Drawings - 50 x 26 x 0.5 cm Fine Art Drawings - 19.7 x 10.2 x 0.2 inch
$274
Les absolues "21 VIII 2007"
Jack Hironimus
Painting - 40 x 30 x 1 cm Painting - 15.7 x 11.8 x 0.4 inch
$536
Les absolues "24 II 2006"
Jack Hironimus
Painting - 40 x 30 x 1 cm Painting - 15.7 x 11.8 x 0.4 inch
$536
Abstrait nu N°14 : Potery palace
Aurélie Trabaud
Painting - 45.5 x 30.5 x 0.1 cm Painting - 17.9 x 12 x 0 inch
Sold
Watering - Botanical Sceneries
Aurélie Trabaud
Painting - 30 x 30 x 1 cm Painting - 11.8 x 11.8 x 0.4 inch
$942
Chanel n°5 bottle, summer party
Patrick Cornée
Sculpture - 27 x 20 x 6 cm Sculpture - 10.6 x 7.9 x 2.4 inch
$3,457
The Direction of Love
Zdenek Legner
Sculpture - 47 x 35.5 x 14 cm Sculpture - 18.5 x 14 x 5.5 inch
$1,788
Schwurhand: Frau rennt weg mit Gehirn
Joseph Beuys
Print - 50 x 43 cm Print - 19.7 x 16.9 inch
$2,265
Coyolxauhqui en el cielo
Francisco Montoya Cázarez
Painting - 30.5 x 23 x 0.1 cm Painting - 12 x 9.1 x 0 inch
$572 $515
