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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Le violoniste
Claude Weisbuch
Painting - 27 x 22 x 2 cm Painting - 10.6 x 8.7 x 0.8 inch
$3,457 $3,111
Andy Warhol Muhamad Ali 400% + 100%
Bearbrick
Design - 28 x 13 x 10 cm Design - 11 x 5.1 x 3.9 inch
$477
Andi with hat
Oliver Hadji
Photography - 40 x 40 x 1 cm Photography - 15.7 x 15.7 x 0.4 inch
$1,431 $1,073
Dollar Sign YP x Andy Warhol
Andy Warhol
Design - 41 x 29 x 4 cm Design - 16.1 x 11.4 x 1.6 inch
$471 $448
Self-Portrait 24.152
Arthur Hent
Fine Art Drawings - 32 x 24 x 0.1 cm Fine Art Drawings - 12.6 x 9.4 x 0 inch
$167
Michel Desjoyeaux
Christophe Paucelier
Photography - 50 x 40 x 0.1 cm Photography - 19.7 x 15.7 x 0 inch
$918
Both these expressions and especially the first are remarkable.
Yrjö Edelmann
Print - 38 x 30 cm Print - 15 x 11.8 inch
$417
Caillou au trait rouge
Françoise Danel
Painting - 40 x 40 x 2 cm Painting - 15.7 x 15.7 x 0.8 inch
$536
The golden town
Kirill Postovit
Fine Art Drawings - 40 x 30 x 0.1 cm Fine Art Drawings - 15.7 x 11.8 x 0 inch
$215
L'inizio della festa
Alexander Daniloff
Painting - 33 x 48 x 0.1 cm Painting - 13 x 18.9 x 0 inch
$232
Natura morta olandese
Alexander Daniloff
Painting - 29.5 x 21 x 0.3 cm Painting - 11.6 x 8.3 x 0.1 inch
$185 $157
Natura morta con vespa
Alexander Daniloff
Painting - 21 x 30 x 0.1 cm Painting - 8.3 x 11.8 x 0 inch
$203
Natura morta con teiera
Alexander Daniloff
Painting - 45 x 30 x 0.3 cm Painting - 17.7 x 11.8 x 0.1 inch
$334 $284
Landscaping-CXXVI
Stanislav Bojankov
Painting - 25 x 35 x 0.1 cm Painting - 9.8 x 13.8 x 0 inch
$143
City on the mountain
Evgeny Chernyakovsky
Painting - 25 x 35 x 1.8 cm Painting - 9.8 x 13.8 x 0.7 inch
$300
Morning embankment
Evgeny Chernyakovsky
Painting - 25 x 35 x 1.8 cm Painting - 9.8 x 13.8 x 0.7 inch
$300
Sunset embankment
Evgeny Chernyakovsky
Painting - 25 x 35 x 1.8 cm Painting - 9.8 x 13.8 x 0.7 inch
$300
Morning silance
Evgeny Chernyakovsky
Painting - 25 x 35 x 1.8 cm Painting - 9.8 x 13.8 x 0.7 inch
$300
Cyclops (The Simpsons) 400% + 100%
Bearbrick
Design - 28 x 13 x 10 cm Design - 11 x 5.1 x 3.9 inch
$477
Variations cinétiques 2
Piero Cipolat
Painting - 50 x 50 x 4 cm Painting - 19.7 x 19.7 x 1.6 inch
$1,395
Sans titre
Jacques Doucet
Fine Art Drawings - 45 x 32 x 0.2 cm Fine Art Drawings - 17.7 x 12.6 x 0.1 inch
$7,153
100 dollar - Pop Art Candy
Ad Van Hassel
Design - 32 x 10 x 10 cm Design - 12.6 x 3.9 x 3.9 inch
$262 $236
Par dessus les montagnes
Mathilde André
Painting - 18 x 28 x 2 cm Painting - 7.1 x 11 x 0.8 inch
$477 $429
La Reine de la Nuit
Hadrien David
Sculpture - 43 x 17 x 37 cm Sculpture - 16.9 x 6.7 x 14.6 inch
$3,219 $2,897
Pez Candy bleu Klein
Annick B. Cuadrado
Sculpture - 18 x 30 x 9 cm Sculpture - 7.1 x 11.8 x 3.5 inch
$2,146
REF 65-17 - On a mis le pied sur la lune
Jeanne
Painting - 30 x 30 x 2 cm Painting - 11.8 x 11.8 x 0.8 inch
$298 $238
REF 78-15 - Composition n° 72
Jeanne
Painting - 27 x 22 x 1.8 cm Painting - 10.6 x 8.7 x 0.7 inch
$298 $238
Babolex Snoop Dogg
Vincent Faudemer
Sculpture - 30 x 18 x 15 cm Sculpture - 11.8 x 7.1 x 5.9 inch
$1,895 $1,706
REF 10-24 - Jeune fille
Jeanne
Painting - 30 x 30 x 1.8 cm Painting - 11.8 x 11.8 x 0.7 inch
$358 $268
Fishes on Dishes - Two Prints
Art Grafts
Photography - 30.5 x 38.1 cm Photography - 12 x 15 inch
$805
Self-Portrait 24.158
Arthur Hent
Fine Art Drawings - 30 x 21 x 0.1 cm Fine Art Drawings - 11.8 x 8.3 x 0 inch
$191
Self-Portrait 24.157
Arthur Hent
Fine Art Drawings - 32 x 24 x 0.1 cm Fine Art Drawings - 12.6 x 9.4 x 0 inch
$191
Self-Portrait 24.156
Arthur Hent
Fine Art Drawings - 32 x 24 x 0.1 cm Fine Art Drawings - 12.6 x 9.4 x 0 inch
$191