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

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Kitchen Diva

Varanasi baby

Tracks II

Dentelle noyer

Workday Conversations

Le dernier soleil 4

Ladybug love

Metis

Lumière noire

Plant Life

Un artiste est nez

Ivory Coast Portrait

Stroll in the Jungle

Usure du temps I

Sculpture Calligraphie Bleue

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The Pink Room

Horizontal and Vertical Movements #1. From The Rectangular Composition Series

Emotion 20200530

Mon ange

Pop Art Communication x Haring x 24/7 (yellow)

Die weiße Frau - Druckedition

Portrait I (1)

Blue Blondie

Chocolate Factory & Crazy Sunset

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Seaside

Mick Jagger - Le poing - London - Derniers tirages

Lefkara Village

Jade

Variation en bleu

Hommage à Léger

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Molot'Lov Man Street Ed

City View

La Vierge Marie, Wonder Woman

Explosion solaire

Only the Strong Survive

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Emerge

Umbra series 16

Arum

Ballerina on a cube

Gold digger

Color Study Bleu

Le nid

Sunset

Indian music

Blue x3

Fast-Food Dior

Les cathédrales de la mer - Série

Serie Gris

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Loading

Portrait de femme

Flux I

Reflections of the Port

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Makapicho

Sunset Over The Meadow

Emotion

Vertical yellow

Jake not Dinos; Dinos not Jake

Dialog