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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Categories

Subcategories

Small

Ocean bleu

Un beau voyage sur l’eau

Character

Sunset Glitter

Character

Character

Sunset time

Personnage

Personnage

Personnage

Personnage

Personnage

Character

Character

On the beach

Buste Féminin

Tamarynd #5

Charlotte

Poppy

The shroud

Backpacker

Careless whisper

Horse Lover

Personnage

Personnage

The Floral Lady

Bouvier bichrome

Enrique Maïdana

Mexico

Desert Moon

Rouge-gorge sur l'île aux fruits

Spring Silence Under the Moon

Detached man /Thomas Mann

Figure looking forward in jeans blue and mint green

Wet grass

L'ange au sourire de la cathédrale de Reims

Evening is coming soon

Coin de rue

Les lavandes

Neige en Cévennes

Abstrait

Petite promenade

Yacht Yoga: Zen & Bubbles

Tropical huntress

Roses and two apples

City Range #51

City Range #50

Sans titre, aquatinte

Frenchwoman

Sans titre

Mr.Hope protège les éléphants

Star Mr.Hope recto/verso

Love is battlefield (1)

Entre ciel et terre 3

Form and Formless No.12 - Abstract Wood Wall Relief

Chevaux au soleil couchant

Fields behind Opishna

Moon Girl

Dance océane

Mouvement

Romantic lake. Askania Nova

The paranoid likes to make people paranoid

Stromboli

Sinfonía Natural

Cube offshore

What is Love

Relief en bronze VIII

Paisaje Invernal