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The Shape of Time
Cynthia Ligeros
Painting - 50.8 x 50.8 x 3.8 cm Painting - 20 x 20 x 1.5 inch
$875
Follow the path of the sun
Susan Wooler
Painting - 50 x 50 x 4.1 cm Painting - 19.7 x 19.7 x 1.6 inch
$693
Wrap yourself around Me
Karin Goeppert
Painting - 39.9 x 39.9 x 4.1 cm Painting - 15.7 x 15.7 x 1.6 inch
$645
Vers les Himalayas
Mariam Khachatryan
Painting - 20 x 30 x 0.1 cm Painting - 7.9 x 11.8 x 0 inch
$783
Colorado River (Erosion), Painting, Acrylic on canvas
Nestor Toro
Painting - 50.8 x 40.6 x 1.8 cm Painting - 20 x 16 x 0.7 inch
$1,030
Schwurhand: Mit Fett gefüllte Skulptur
Joseph Beuys
Print - 32 x 25 cm Print - 12.6 x 9.8 inch
$2,796
Secrets of the night
Karl-Karol Chrobok
Painting - 48 x 34 x 0.1 cm Painting - 18.9 x 13.4 x 0 inch
$671
Spring in Brittany, Puppies in my Garden
Claudie Baran
Painting - 50 x 50 x 2 cm Painting - 19.7 x 19.7 x 0.8 inch
$693
Coucher de soleil rose
Françoise Laine
Painting - 50 x 50 x 4 cm Painting - 19.7 x 19.7 x 1.6 inch
$548
Better off alone 03
Poonam Choudhary
Painting - 50.8 x 40.6 x 5.1 cm Painting - 20 x 16 x 2 inch
$220
La Plage - série bord de mer
Carla PM
Painting - 31 x 23 x 2 cm Painting - 12.2 x 9.1 x 0.8 inch
$436
La Plage - série bord de mer
Carla PM
Painting - 31 x 23 x 3 cm Painting - 12.2 x 9.1 x 1.2 inch
$436
La Plage - série bord de mer
Carla PM
Painting - 31 x 23 x 3 cm Painting - 12.2 x 9.1 x 1.2 inch
$436
La Plage - série bord de mer
Carla PM
Painting - 31 x 23 x 3 cm Painting - 12.2 x 9.1 x 1.2 inch
$436
Jaune Citron et Or
Christian Jodin
Painting - 40 x 40 x 2 cm Painting - 15.7 x 15.7 x 0.8 inch
$358 $322
Zapping Blue Colors
Christian Jodin
Painting - 50 x 50 x 2 cm Painting - 19.7 x 19.7 x 0.8 inch
$442
Hommage à Klimt Bleue et Or
Christian Jodin
Painting - 50 x 50 x 2 cm Painting - 19.7 x 19.7 x 0.8 inch
$436
Finis Extra 48779
Duilio Forte
Painting - 27.1 x 35.2 x 5.3 cm Painting - 10.7 x 13.9 x 2.1 inch
$436
A Coffee with Taylor Swift (Un Café avec Taylor Swift)
Christian Jodin
Painting - 50 x 50 x 2 cm Painting - 19.7 x 19.7 x 0.8 inch
$442
The symphony of God
Saverio Filioli Uranio
Painting - 40 x 30 x 2 cm Painting - 15.7 x 11.8 x 0.8 inch
$213
Nature morte i 1992 Still life I
P Girot
Print - 33 x 25 x 0.3 cm Print - 13 x 9.8 x 0.1 inch
$1,113
Zapping Blue Colors
Christian Jodin
Painting - 50 x 50 x 2 cm Painting - 19.7 x 19.7 x 0.8 inch
$425
The fire and the infinity #2 (from the "The fire and the infinity" series)
Saverio Filioli Uranio
Painting - 32 x 24 x 0.1 cm Painting - 12.6 x 9.4 x 0 inch
$179
The fire and the infinity #1 (from the "The fire and the infinity" series)
Saverio Filioli Uranio
Painting - 30 x 23 x 0.1 cm Painting - 11.8 x 9.1 x 0 inch
$179
Jamas sierpe ni cebra ni mula palidecieron
Josep Guinovart
Print - 47 x 49 cm Print - 18.5 x 19.3 inch
$391
Too deep, too closely
Saverio Filioli Uranio
Painting - 45 x 35 x 2 cm Painting - 17.7 x 13.8 x 0.8 inch
$213
Untitled
Saverio Filioli Uranio
Fine Art Drawings - 32 x 24 cm Fine Art Drawings - 12.6 x 9.4 inch
$89
Dance Chromatique
Rita Vandenherrewegen
Painting - 39 x 39 x 1 cm Painting - 15.4 x 15.4 x 0.4 inch
$537 $483
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…