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

Lichtreflex Rotation

Untitled from the series Shifty Packets

Le circassien

Passe de cape

Aizhan Mukatova I

Place de Fürstenberg, Paris

Artichoke II

Marilyn Monroe et l'éléphantin du cirque Barnum

Vigilant

Ma petite

Hit by a bus

Sleeping Beauty

Manufactura 3

Minoru KANO 1975

Olympia Fragment (La Franca 9)

Marilyn Monroe in Niagara

Hand I

Audrey Hepburn

Temple Trasher

The Hooded

Secret Invasion

Sans Titre

Twickenham Streaker

Amazing Spiderman

Untitled VII. From the series chiromorphose

Black Flag

Coq expressif

Âne

Erotica Plume 2006 Feather

Gabriel García Márquez Portrait

Eclipse

Dream Lake 2

Senza titolo

Marilyn Monroe in The Seven Year Itch

Legend

Sans 1

Pays #222

Last London Bus

Vassilis with farm equipment

Circumambulate. The Doldrums, from the series "SPAR/CUBA"

Carolyn Carlson 2

Untitled

Lyric theatre

Splash

Pivoine

Adriana Rayén

2X2 (1)

Sans Titre

Picasso

House in Mud

Grand Palais, Paris

Hidden place

Dont Walk

Chasm Lake

Last stop

Leaf Veins III

Ours au poisson

Yosémite

Apaiser le brouillard

Jeanne Hébuterne - Planche 64

Agnès Varda - Les plages d'Agnès

Noir 01 “Black River”

Le panier

Greeting from Paris

Yves Klein/ Pierre Descargues - Zone de sensibilité

Lonely meditation