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

Etude

Timeless 3

Against all odds

AbstraKoeur Cosmos Peace

Shining

Trunklestiltskins out and about

Farewell to winter. Hello spring!

L'univers des Yayas - N° 328

Rose Notre-Dame 8

Jade UberKranky

Converse

Jeu d'écriture (rouge) - 1 | Writing game (red) - 1

Paysage de Chine 1

Harmony in disarray

Divergent paths #7

Conscience

Le bousier

Royal wedding

Unchained

Grand canal de nuit à Venise

Winter Glow

Iconic Gameboy Nike - Blanc et rouge - Nintendo

Il sognatore

Ritratto

Il Cancro (The Cancer)

Raz'ebala Vse Ebalo

Au coin de la rue aux prêtres

Ngapa Jukurrpa (Water Dreaming) - Puyurru

Untitled

Malvern Hills

Spring on the Shore of the Aquamarine Ocean

Title n°344

Silver city trumpet

Cadence

Untitled

Cartoline

Vanité 2

Genèse

Kiss N° 5

Absorbing reading

Il Sagittario (Sagittarius)

Fleurs d'eau

Musée du Louvre

Flamenco dancer (Red)

Madame

Narciso

Fragments d'émotion #6

See my potato sack (Marilyn)

Platform-6

Keep Moving

Energie - Paysage

Campbell's Street Fight

Abstraction sur socle

Head in head

Passion

Banksyskull au chien Koons

Pair of lamps in the style

Blue abstract

11-2021

I love you

Still life with pots

Bust of a woman

Red Picasso

The orange stripe dress

Ombros

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