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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Subcategories

Small

Plant Life

Ivory Coast Portrait

Usure du temps I

Pêche en printemps

Sculpture Calligraphie Bleue

Unbreakable Bond

The Pink Room

Jake not Dinos; Dinos not Jake

Die weiße Frau - Druckedition

Bleu Butterfly

Portrait I (1)

Jonrock (3) Signature

Poèmes insoumis

Okta

Blue Blondie

City View

Chocolate Factory & Crazy Sunset

L'asphyxie

Sans titre - série Abstraction

Seaside

Mick Jagger - Le poing - London - Derniers tirages

El concepto

Untitled

Un château dans le ciel

Pawn / Player

Sherlock

Lefkara Village

La nuit se lève, la lune s'élève

Lace mandala

Pin up girl and jack pot 03

From the Series Passion

Variation en bleu

Paris Kapitale MissTic Paella

Loading

Les 3 O

Ballerina on a cube

Color Study Bleu

Le nid

Sunset

Blue x3

Les cathédrales de la mer - Série

Serie Gris

Sans Titre

Retrouver les bons souvenirs

Weltengarten

La Possédée

Flux I

Reflections of the Port

Makapicho

A Chick

Emotion

Vertical yellow

Dialog

Lumière noire

Le livre des livres

Pris dans la glace

Patronage, Sculpture Bronze

Fizzing Cone

Heart

Grosminet

Portrait de femme

Soir d 'été

California Poppy Coast

Jade

Untitled

Danse