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…

Search by Image

Save your search and find it in your favorites

1/11 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11

Categories

Subcategories

Small

Feel the glow

Permeable Existence No.9

Beyond the Visible

Bondi Bathers Butterfly

Ornament & Misfit

Sin título

Abstract-3125

Calanque de Sugiton

Rhythm of Nothingness

Sans-titre

Fantaisie 13 - Série abstraction poétique

Buste Antique

Willows

7 Eisquader

Allégorie de fertilité

Dream Scape Blue

Rosetta

As the Wind Blows---Etude I

Cartografia aquàtica nº4

Sans titre

Sans-Titre

Globe

Homage to Thelonious Monk

Poème #1 | L'Albatros

Infinite randomness V, IV

CBS-16

M.160302

Wave pearl eggplant

Lawn, Hand Stitched Canvas, Cherrywood Frame

New Cairo, Cairo, Egypt

Ours polaire

La légende du colibri rose dégradé

Movement | Bronze Sculpture

Opening. Gap.

Little Agatha

Sea blue

Carapace_01

The North Atlantic

Océane - Abstraction minimaliste colorée

Study

Sans-Titre

Sans titre

Sans-titre

Sans-titre

Sans-titre

Sans-titre

Sans-titre

Sans-titre

20.08

Bicycle, Painting, Oil on Paper

Monuments

Gélule Addict

NO

Untitled

untitled

VI 04-22

Palimpsest (Bacn)

untitled

Inner turmoil

Orest

1 of infinite possibilities of seeing a particular rectangle a little different

Dawn

Intervallum - I

DIA

Orphan

Torso