Systems and methods for obtaining two- and three-dimensional magnetic resonance images by using azimuthally symmetric dipolar magnetic fields from magnetic spheres. A complete two- or three-dimensional structured rendering of a sample can be obtained without the motion of the sample relative to the sphere. Magnetic spheres in the range of 100 .mu.m and 100 nm are used with samples that are approximately one-tenth as large as the magnetic sphere. Sequential positioning of the integrated sample-sphere system in an external magnetic field at various angular orientations provides all the required imaging slices for successful computerized tomographic image reconstruction. The requirement to scan the sample relative to the magnetic tip is eliminated. Resolutions approaching atomic dimensions are expected to be obtained.