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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Small

Jeune femme endormie

Mother and child

La fille de Chambellan

Shout with me

Eros

_Conversation

Covid Monalisa

Sur la plage

Cause the world’s crasy man

Nail artist

Fluttering butterflies

Série pêche, Manakara

Unique openwork portrait

Hapers MX

La loge

Pacific Sugar

Tue - Get The Look!

Innocence in Collision

Mickaël Archangel

Napoleon said...

Bowing Man

Muse jangala

In a sense

Double Temporality

Réflexions

Above

A_scared_Kojosei_notreally_

Les rois de la pédale

La bougie

Baiser

Œdipe I

A man in a bar

VNGH

From child's album

Unknown

Agathe

Rolly Polly

Variation of Mona Lisa ( made with dust)

Trump at Home

Sans titre

Sans titre

Sans titre

Susumu

Portrate of Frida Kahlo

Nostalgia

Female bust, early 1980s

Untitled

Comtesse PiouPiou

Audrey Fleurot 3

Mechanical Body In Colors

Soir d'été

Alinéa-toi - Série sculpture bronze corps humain

P10

Corolle

Portrait féminin

Étude Corps Féminin 13

En retrait

Récolte d'étoile

There was always love

Récitation à l’éloge d’une Reine

Femme arbre Le rachis vital

Laurette

Lauren

Room 2 - 12 Prints Collector Portfolio # 5 - Fine Art Photography

Looking for the past

MV. 24-7 - Série Croquis Modèle Vivant