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

Pyramid

Windows

Continuum

Animal imaginaire II

Sculpture lumineuse TA 206

Curved oscillable 2

Curved oscillable 1

Head 14

Broken flower No. 1

Sceptronome 3

Cygnus

Studio 11

Combo 2

Tourbillon

Traversée

Silver grey

Awakening II

Curved oscillable 5

Composition

CERAMIC - BLACKDOORS #36

Libre

Silent wave

Fais comme l'oiseau

Dialog I

Kadencia

Objekt

CERAMIC - BLACKDOORS #31

Solo

Screen Print – BLACKDOORS #49

Harmonious Geometry

Bluish (oscillable)

BALANCE

Pro-femina

Point doré #1

Composition

Hako IV

Sourire de Banquier

Consonances #9 (série méditation)

Variation #3 (série méditations)

Variation #1 (série méditations)

Super novae

Alphabet Mis a Nu v.05

Consonances #12 (série méditation)

Consonances #6 (série méditations)

Beauty

Porte aux astres

JM.Du Coeur vers la Vie

JM.Celebration Mandala

SCOPIQUE FUSCHIA

Pixelated young torso

Pixelated young torso White

Abstrait nu N°5

Abstrait nu N°4

Untitled 62

Abstrait nu N°1- Gris

Helios In Boots

Abstrait nu N°25

Climbing II, Paris

Sans titre

Innocent

Climbing I, Paris

El salto II

Argonauta

Nu féminin à l'encre de Chine (6)

Nu féminin à l'encre de Chine (5)

Nu féminin à l'encre de Chine (3)

Balance

Liberty