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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Two Kuikuro men pull the fishing net through the lake near their village in preparation for the women’s ceremony during Kuarup. Xingu Indigenous Territory, State of Mato Grosso, Brazil (S)

Sebastião Salgado

Photography - 40.6 x 50.8 cm Photography - 16 x 20 inch

$10,000

Two Kuikuro men pull the fishing net through the lake near their village in preparation for the women’s ceremony during Kuarup. Xingu Indigenous Territory, State of Mato Grosso, Brazil (S)

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Aigua II

West Papua, Indonesia (M)

West Papua, Indonesia (S)

Two Kuikuro men pull the fishing net through the lake near their village in preparation for the women’s ceremony during Kuarup. Xingu Indigenous Territory, State of Mato Grosso, Brazil (S)

Two Kuikuro men pull the fishing net through the lake near their village in preparation for the women’s ceremony during Kuarup. Xingu Indigenous Territory, State of Mato Grosso, Brazil (S)

Embrace

Derrière Toi

Fragment Escultòric Petit Nº 18

Coeur nomade

Silhouette prime

Nina Ricci in hat

Woman in a red blouse

L'oiseau qui rêve de Mer 2

L'oiseau qui rêve de Mer - 1

Nabila

Free breath

Monsieur Vénus

Spotty face beauty

Sous la couette

La Belle Mona

Le concours

Sagittaire

Mange ta main

Et ils ont tous des enfants n°4

Bolchoi V

Line of palms

Anchor

Manufactura 9

Cellule de degrisement

Missing

Le Naufrage

Gandhi

Avant le combat III

Le Suivant

Sekel, Century

Pieds à terre

Sans titre 2

Un Français a donné un canapé, quatre chaises et un fauteuil

Riot

Adelpha

Pulchrum foruM - Format M

Udo Kier

Denis Hopper

Fashion Victims

No name

Nice and Slow

N° 1119 Belgrade 16. Pobednik.

Art laboratory #2

Untitled

Looping

Black 92

Black 91

Immagine 2

New York trip

Should we love again or not ?

What I think about when I cuddle my dachshund dogs

Corps à corps

Je suis fauché

Divas de Jazz #2

Divas de Jazz #3

Jealous Cats (Giclée Print)

La petite robe noire

Under Water series

Portrait de Katarina

Un coeur à prendre

Equilibriste