Tiny Paintings: Art World’s Next Big Thing
- In a world often obsessed with the grandiose, a growing number of contemporary artists are finding power in the miniature. These artists are creating small paintings that offer...
- Lee, 47, experienced the world of large-scale art firsthand in 2016.
- Despite this experience with monumental art, Lee's own artistic endeavors lean towards the modest.
The Allure of Small Paintings: Contemporary Artists Embracing intimacy
Table of Contents
- The Allure of Small Paintings: Contemporary Artists Embracing intimacy
- The allure of Small Paintings: A Q&A on Contemporary Artists Embracing Intimacy
- What are small paintings, and why are they gaining popularity?
- Who are some contemporary artists known for creating small paintings?
- How does Jennifer J. Lee’s experience with large-scale art influence her small paintings?
- What are the practical advantages of creating and collecting small paintings?
- What is the historical context of miniature painting?
- How do small paintings encourage a different kind of engagement with art?
- Why are some artists rejecting the spectacle of large-scale art?
- How does the scale of a painting affect its meaning and impact?
- Key Figures in Small scale Art
In a world often obsessed with the grandiose, a growing number of contemporary artists are finding power in the miniature. These artists are creating small paintings that offer an intimate viewing experience, a counterpoint to the large-scale spectacles that dominate much of the art world.
Jennifer J. Lee: Finding Grandeur in the Modest
Jennifer J. Lee, 47, experienced the world of large-scale art firsthand in 2016. She was one of ten artists who assisted abstract painter Julie Mehretu on a commission for the San Francisco Museum of Modern Art.The result was “blank”>Howl, Eon (I, II),” a history painting of epic proportions. The work consists of two 27-by-32-foot canvases covered in ink markings, evoking the grandeur and violence of American westward expansion. Lee even had to use a scissor lift inside Mehretu’s New York studio to help silk-screen shapes directly onto the canvases. The final product dwarfed even Michelangelo’s “The Last Judgment.”
Despite this experience with monumental art, Lee’s own artistic endeavors lean towards the modest. Working from her Brooklyn apartment, where she and her husband (also an artist) live and work, Lee creates small-scale paintings on jute canvases.These canvases range in size from smaller than a postcard to slightly larger than a sheet of printer paper. She reproduces cropped images sourced from shopping sites and internet forums, depicting everyday objects like blue jeans, club sandwiches, and children’s playrooms.
The texture of the jute gives each panel a pixelated appearance, emphasizing that it is indeed an image of an image.The scale mirrors the source, as if viewed on an iPad or laptop screen. Some of Lee’s most evocative works are about the size of a shower tile. She describes the experience of viewing her paintings in a gallery as akin to peeking thru a keyhole: I love being able to beckon someone to look at something.
A Growing Trend: Artists Working Small
Lee,whose blank”>most recent solo show opened at New York’s Klaus von Nichtssagend Gallery in January 2025, is part of a growing movement of contemporary painters who are embracing the small painting. Other artists include:
- Mia Middleton, 36, based in Lisbon, creates photorealist Hitchcockian freeze frames.
- Chris Oh, 42, working in New York and Portland, Ore., paints fragments of Renaissance paintings on the insides of shells and geodes.
- Somaya Critchlow, 31, from London, is known for her paperback-size portraits of Black women.
The Practical and Intimate Appeal of Miniature Art
The reasons for this shift towards small-scale art are varied. Practical considerations play a role. With rising costs of materials, studio space, and shipping, small paintings offer a more affordable and manageable option. The pandemic also forced many artists to work within the confines of their homes, leading to smaller-scale creations.
Beyond practicality, small paintings possess an undeniable intimacy. They are seductive, unpretentious, and invite close inspection. As Mia Middleton observes, they creep up on you.
These artists, despite their diverse styles, share a traditional view of art: individual communion rather than collective spectacle. Only one viewer can truly engage with each piece at a time.
Rejecting the Spectacle: A Return to Sustainability
jonathan Rider, 41, an artist and the director of the Flag Art Foundation, creates geometric paper collages roughly the size of large index cards. He notes that ther are artists who work from the shoulder down, the elbow down, the wrist down and from the first two fingers.
He contrasts this with the trend of the past 15 years,where the art market’s influx of money led many artists to create increasingly large works,frequently enough relying on teams of assistants to fill vast galleries and museums.
Today, some artists and dealers are seeking a more enduring approach by focusing on small-scale art. Jennifer J. Lee questions the need for excessive wealth in the art world: Why can’t we have a middle-class existence? Why do we have to make hundreds of thousands of dollars? All I’ve ever wanted is to keep going.
Historical Context: Miniature Painting Through the Ages
The tradition of miniature painting dates back to at least the 16th century, when court painters created detailed portraits for lockets and small boxes. In the 20th century, artists working on a modest scale were often outsiders, not associated with major artistic movements. Giorgio Morandi (1890-1964), known for his tender still lifes, remained in Bologna throughout his career. Forrest Bess (1911-77) created abstractions the size of record sleeves in a small tin cabin in Texas. Thomas Nozkowski (1944-2019) created paintings of overlapping organic forms that he described as scaled to my friends’ apartments
in the East Village.
While these artists may not be household names, they prioritized artistic integrity over fame. As critic and artist Mira Schor wrote in her 2001 essay “Modest Painting,” artists in this lineage often prize rigor or ambition for painting itself
over their own careers. This sentiment resonates with artists like Peter Shear, 44, a self-taught abstract painter from Indiana. Shear, who worked as an elementary school custodian for years and will have a solo show at Mendes Wood DM gallery in Brussels next January, rarely paints on canvases longer than 20 inches. Now more than ever,
he says, it doesn’t seem like a good time to be ostentatious.
The allure of Small Paintings: A Q&A on Contemporary Artists Embracing Intimacy
In an art world often dominated by large-scale spectacles, a growing number of contemporary artists are finding power in the miniature.This article explores the trend of small paintings, examining the reasons behind their allure, the artists who create them, and the historical context of miniature art.
What are small paintings, and why are they gaining popularity?
Small paintings are art pieces created on a modest scale, offering an intimate viewing experience. They are gaining popularity as a counterpoint to the large-scale spectacles frequently enough seen in the art world. Several factors contribute to this trend:
Practical Considerations: Rising costs of materials, studio space, and shipping make small paintings a more affordable and manageable option for artists.
Intimacy: Small paintings possess an undeniable intimacy, inviting close inspection and individual communion rather than collective spectacle.
Sustainability: Some artists and dealers are seeking a more enduring and sustainable approach to art, rejecting the need for excessive wealth and focusing on creating art for the sake of art.
Who are some contemporary artists known for creating small paintings?
Several contemporary artists are embracing the art of small paintings, each with their unique style and perspective:
Jennifer J. Lee: Creates small-scale paintings on jute canvases, reproducing cropped images sourced from shopping sites and internet forums.
Mia Middleton: Based in Lisbon, creates photorealist Hitchcockian freeze frames.
Chris Oh: Working in New York and Portland, ore., paints fragments of Renaissance paintings on the insides of shells and geodes.
Somaya Critchlow: From London, is known for her paperback-size portraits of Black women.
Jonathan Rider: Creates geometric paper collages roughly the size of large index cards.
Peter shear: A self-taught abstract painter from Indiana, rarely paints on canvases longer than 20 inches.
How does Jennifer J. Lee’s experience with large-scale art influence her small paintings?
Jennifer J. Lee experienced the world of large-scale art firsthand when she assisted abstract painter Julie Mehretu on a commission for the San Francisco Museum of modern Art, resulting in two 27-by-32-foot canvases. Despite this experience with monumental art, Lee’s own artistic endeavors lean towards the modest. Her experience with large-scale art may have influenced her to seek a more intimate and personal approach to art-making, finding grandeur in the modest and everyday.
What are the practical advantages of creating and collecting small paintings?
Creating and collecting small paintings offers several practical advantages:
Affordability: Small paintings are generally more affordable to create and purchase due to the lower cost of materials and resources.
manageability: Small paintings are easier to store, transport, and display, making them ideal for smaller living spaces or for collectors with limited space.
Accessibility: The lower price point makes art more accessible to a wider audience, fostering a more inclusive and democratic art market.
What is the historical context of miniature painting?
The tradition of miniature painting dates back to at least the 16th century, when court painters created detailed portraits for lockets and small boxes. In the 20th century, artists working on a modest scale were often outsiders, not associated with major artistic movements.
examples of 20th-century artists known for working on a modest scale include:
Giorgio morandi (1890-1964): Known for his tender still lifes, remained in Bologna throughout his career.
Forrest Bess (1911-77): Created abstractions the size of record sleeves in a small tin cabin in Texas.
Thomas Nozkowski (1944-2019): Created paintings of overlapping organic forms that he described as scaled to my friends’ apartments in the East Village.
How do small paintings encourage a different kind of engagement with art?
Small paintings encourage a more intimate and personal engagement with art:
Close Inspection: Their small size invites viewers to get up close and personal, examining the details and nuances of the artwork.
Individual Communion: Small paintings foster individual communion rather than collective spectacle,allowing only one viewer to truly engage with each piece at a time.
Intimacy and Seduction: The small scale creates a sense of intimacy and seduction, drawing viewers in and captivating their attention.
Why are some artists rejecting the spectacle of large-scale art?
Some artists are rejecting the spectacle of large-scale art for several reasons:
Sustainability: They are seeking a more enduring and sustainable approach to art, focusing on creating art for the sake of art rather than for financial gain.
Artistic Integrity: They prioritize artistic integrity over fame, focusing on the rigor and ambition of painting itself rather than their own careers.
* Rejection of ostentation: They believe that it is not a good time to be ostentatious, preferring to create art that is humble and unpretentious.
How does the scale of a painting affect its meaning and impact?
The scale of a painting can considerably affect its meaning and impact on the viewer. Large-scale paintings often evoke a sense of grandeur, power, and spectacle, while small paintings create a sense of intimacy, delicacy, and personal connection.the scale can influence the viewer’s perception of the artwork, shaping their emotional response and intellectual understanding.
Key Figures in Small scale Art
| Artist | Style | Key Themes/characteristics |
| ——————- | —————————————– | —————————————————————————————————————————— |
| Jennifer J. Lee | Small-scale paintings on jute canvases | Cropped images from shopping sites and internet forums, pixelated appearance |
| Mia Middleton | Photorealist | Hitchcockian freeze frames |
| Chris Oh | Mixed Media | Fragments of Renaissance paintings on the insides of shells and geodes |
| Somaya Critchlow | Portraits | Paperback-size portraits of Black women |
| Jonathan Rider | Geometric Paper Collages | Index card sized geometric collages |
| Peter shear | Abstract | Rarely paints on canvases longer than 20 inches, known for his use of color. Prefers using acrylic and oil sticks on board |