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…

Search by Image

Save your search and find it in your favorites

4/58 1 2 3 4 5 6 10 20 30 40 50 58

Categories

Subcategories

Small

Coquelicot

Village with sunflowers - Tuscany landscape painting & frame

Le Phare

Le coeur des fleurs #1

Basket with roses - Italian old painting + frame

Glow or Grow

Ray of Sunshine

Le Guyaude

Untitled

Vivre

Jeune femme endormie

Holy Crown/No.1 The texture of imagination

Series of Daily Life Painting

Elliptic, recherche n°7

Mare Nostrum II

Albero con pesci - dialogo -

Pink cupcake

Ilands

Andy Warhol, Flowers #1

Layer of Amazon

Failles #01 Irlande

Lustgarten 07

The rose...

#3, from I-ching series

Skyline "Las Vegas"

Paonte

Sans titre

Tall Tall Grass

Anémones

Dans les rues de Biot

The sound of music

Surrealist Nude

Lucienne

Pygmalion

Flower memories

A touch

Orange tulips

Magnolia - Selene

Printemps II

Sprouts

Daydream

Blue basilikum

Flower from the moon

Time transition

Abstract collection

Fleur 20

Fleur 19

Model in Margiela

A feast

Holland tulips

Plexus

Floral Emotions

Scars to your beautiful 04

Smell of summer

White spring

Une petite fleur

Kiss

Fleur 19

Fleur 18

Fleur 11

6th sence

Lightness

Covers 13 - Purple A

Lanterna verde

Water lily garden

Bloom of Consciousness