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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Categories

Subcategories

Small

Seltener Fisch II

Seltene Krabbe

Surfacing

Marsfeld CXII

Marsfeld CLXIII

Self-Portrait 1990

Copy Cat Eyes

Uprising

Another world

Beach Club

Libellule

Maple

Myth, Muse and Metaphor #9

Derivate parziali

Le chemin du bonheur

Love

Utopia [A reached target is no longer a target]

Création 5

Ripened Elegance

Life, as it is

Composition (1)

3 Acrobates Haring

Paysage onirique

Rainy day

Butterfly Dreams

Colorful monday

Petit souvenir d'Orient

Abstract flowers

Salmon for Lunch

Amour, gloire & ecstasy! framed.(+ pack bonus)

Aube bleue

Colorado River (Erosion), Painting, Acrylic on canvas

Blue flowers

Mon jardin d'Eden

Stabisme Pastoral

432 HZ

Sunny Rose

Shady pond

Stars, moon and night city

Première sortie

Banana Grab

White and Pink Wild Roses

Choices

Liberosis

Eclipse of a Moment

Sunflower's Dance

Sunrise Seascape

Bouquet of White flowers and bluebells in a blue vase on red. Still life.

Olive branch

Yellow Sunflower Field 8

White flowers in a glass vase

Starry Whisper – A Luminous Exploration of the Night Sky

Floral queen

Paysage onirique

Jardin de Paradis

Good vibrations

A delightful appointment

Daybreak

Astronomy domine

Acient writing

Dorak

Squares

Perfect coincidence 20

Perfect Coincidence 16

Perfect Coincidence 8

Perfect coincidence 7

Scarlet Whirl

She Waits Silently