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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Tropical Landscape
Jean-Raymond Delpech
Fine Art Drawings - 26.5 x 35.5 x 0.1 cm Fine Art Drawings - 10.4 x 14 x 0 inch
$715
Wild Flowers (Edition Vieillie)
Toctoc
Print - 42 x 29.7 x 0.01 cm Print - 16.5 x 11.7 x 0 inch
$656
Something about childhood 4
Liubou Sas
Painting - 50 x 40 x 0.4 cm Painting - 19.7 x 15.7 x 0.2 inch
$954
Gathering (original mixed media on paper)
Purvis Young
Painting - 35.6 x 27.6 x 0.3 cm Painting - 14 x 10.87 x 0.11 inch
$1,250
Peace Fingers (Gold)
Shepard Fairey (Obey)
Design - 30 x 12 x 8 cm Design - 11.8 x 4.7 x 3.1 inch
$2,146
For Your Eyes Only 19
Marian Williams
Fine Art Drawings - 44.5 x 31.5 x 0.1 cm Fine Art Drawings - 17.5 x 12.4 x 0 inch
$298 $236
In the park of Barcelona
Neonilla Medvedeva
Painting - 33 x 38 x 3 cm Painting - 13 x 15 x 1.2 inch
$894
Hongkong mood light
Lisbeth Buonanno
Painting - 27 x 22 x 2 cm Painting - 10.6 x 8.7 x 0.8 inch
$894
Self portrait with between clock and bed
Gerard Boersma
Painting - 50.8 x 40.6 x 2.5 cm Painting - 20 x 16 x 1 inch
$1,970
The bees' dance 2
Federico Cortese
Painting - 49.8 x 49.8 x 0.3 cm Painting - 19.6 x 19.6 x 0.1 inch
$650
Tropiques, Fleurs blanches
Bernard Marie Collet
Painting - 50 x 50 x 4 cm Painting - 19.7 x 19.7 x 1.6 inch
$954
Midnight blooms
Soichiro Shimizu
Painting - 30 x 25 x 3.5 cm Painting - 11.8 x 9.8 x 1.4 inch
$1,133
Love in the Time of Forest Fires
Niki Singleton
Painting - 40.64 x 30.48 x 2 cm Painting - 16 x 12 x 0.8 inch
$3,020
Petit ours tagué patineur
Miko-R
Sculpture - 40 x 18 x 26 cm Sculpture - 15.7 x 7.1 x 10.2 inch
$894
Gants de boxe (Red-heart red-violet)
Nick Walker
Sculpture - 30 x 12.5 x 3 cm Sculpture - 11.8 x 4.9 x 1.2 inch
$1,669
Gacko bear love pop art Porsche
André Gacko
Sculpture - 27 x 26 x 21 cm Sculpture - 10.6 x 10.2 x 8.3 inch
$1,538
Nous ne sommes pas les derniers
Zoran Music
Print - 33 x 25.5 x 0.1 cm Print - 13 x 10 x 0 inch
$2,980
Émergence lumineuse
Alexandre Moore Rockefeller
Painting - 47 x 36 x 0.6 cm Painting - 18.5 x 14.2 x 0.2 inch
$775
Sognami ancora
Francesco Calistri
Painting - 50 x 50 x 2 cm Painting - 19.7 x 19.7 x 0.8 inch
$2,027
Sans titre
Kitty Sabatier
Fine Art Drawings - 41 x 27 cm Fine Art Drawings - 16.1 x 10.6 inch
$1,669
Composition musicale dyptique 1/2
Francesco Marino Di Teana
Fine Art Drawings - 23 x 30 x 2 cm Fine Art Drawings - 9.1 x 11.8 x 0.8 inch
$2,384
By My Side 1
Antoine Rose
Photography - 35 x 35 x 0.5 cm Photography - 13.8 x 13.8 x 0.2 inch
$1,104
Garçon au ballon
Seth
Fine Art Drawings - 30 x 24 x 2 cm Fine Art Drawings - 11.8 x 9.4 x 0.8 inch
$834
The arms of the little Cupid
Lilit Soghomonyan
Painting - 50 x 50 x 2 cm Painting - 19.7 x 19.7 x 0.8 inch
$1,907
