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

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

Fulles de tardor

Cloud 1

Crisantemo

Bill T. Jones

Contemporary Aboriginal Inspired Abstract.

Egine 1

La Guerre

Wild Flower

Queen

Jardin de curé

Azur

CeraCera Gold - Pablo Savón x Alëxone Dizac

Flower of Life

Délia Fille de la Mer

Nude #2, With My Eyes Closed

Indras Net

Rosetta

WIld panther

My Garden

Sans titre

Who Are These Angels CXLIII

Atmósfera

Sans titre

Blushing Reflections

Empreinte

Liquid Love

Vertiges

Changeons la vie

Binti mrembo (beautiful girl)

Sans titre

Débordement V

Male Nr. 121701

Marbles

Sand castles

Jardins villa Barbarigo (Série reflets)

19.6.17

Nick Cave

Innertube Vision 3

Some hard clouds looks soft

Enigma IV - scène de vie onirique inspiré du paysage d'Hourtin plage, presqu'île du Médoc

Pop Porsche

Fragment 3

Surreal Cemetery

No. 96

Untitled

The bridge 41203

THETIS

Untitled

Untitled

L'ange

Keni

Aiguille du plan, Dent de Requin à Chamonix n°1

Ventre de Paris

Sans interdits

Menton (RF01)

Blue Tiger

Trio de la reine

Astatic (Danilowitz 116)