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

Mona Lisa colorless

Listening

Portrait du peintre Sen Shombit

Leurre

Adriana Rayén

Team Love, Tapachula, Mexico

Man lying down

Optimus Metallicus / TrashFormers series

Complémentaires

Simple Uncle Sam

Taxi Driver, June 13

Rufina Amaya survivante et militante salvadorienne - série hommage, technique ancestrale du découpage Suisse

Mallow

Primavera

Audrey et Eléphants

Grand Palais, Paris

Life in the Carpathians, Romania

The winner

Mim

Mechanical Mermaids

Desperate

Le baiser, The kiss

The pink Bauhaus skull

Seated Woman

Comment vas-tu mon poussin ?

Sepulchre

La confiance

La diva aux fleurs

Robe jaune 1 ref BDNW11665

Chapeau

Fleur

Concorso d'eleganza

Ecrans

Self-portrait

Angel

Méternité

La Lampe à Pétrole

Jeune sorcière

Fançy a drink ? - ça vous dirait de prendre un verre ?

Face color

Portrait d'enfant

Partie de Campagne

A Moto !

Portrait of woman

Warrior of compassion, Punta Valdes, Argentina

Butcher

Man machine

Three-quarter-length woman

Etude pour Raboliot

Christian

Flower Offering

Garden

Agnès Varda - Les plages d'Agnès

Les Musiciens

Pink persona

Perfect Pattern Wallplate - Eyes Open

Mar de nuestros Ancestros

Bubby & The Daisy Quest

Homeland

Yves Klein/ Pierre Descargues - Zone de sensibilité

Lonely meditation

Homer's Head

Red Dress

Self-Portrait #4

Bang

Phébé la dernière fille de Gaïa