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

Upcycle #1 Celebration

Hommage à Murakami

Samson

Mesk Tag 3D "Fluo"

Lemon season I

Luana

Radiance

Jardin

Sans titre n°28

The guiding light, Painting, Acrylic on canvas

Chroma VII

This Wallpaper is not Avaiable

Chaplin and a Friend

No signal

El-f

Champ de l'herbe

Les eaux montent

Poissons volants

Untitled

Home

Macbeth

Hat Style

A Private Meeting

Sunset Silhouette

Majorca

Wheat field. Reapers

Entrelazar 5

Abstrait Ref BDNW8099

No brilho dos olhos

Butterfly Lady

Kaori

Terrasse St Trop

Petit rouge

Mobile Cosmos

Sans-titre

Sans titre

Le Palais de Chaillot

Héloïse et le lapin écarlate

Pulse

Sometimes it Don't Seem Easy

Abstraction

McBreakfast

Natacha

Toi et Moi

Profile with White Flower

El Duende 16

Lovers - The portrait of love 3

Sin título

Sans-titre

Petit bar à Kyoto - série voyage en Asie

Au musée

Moine bouddhiste avec un jeune novice

Skull 2 : 04/75

Untitled 109

Mucha

Les immortelles de Jean

Plage 7

Ex Boyfriends 7

When Boys Become Men

Portrait

Geisha Doreen

Alium Light

Friendly Alien #1

X-mas Time is Here Again

Filoch bleu métal

Olivier (ALB75)