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

Etudes pour un paysage idéal n°2

Vague à l'âme

Errance

À l'aube

Anecdote

Shogun

November Mist lll

Winter landscape

Province

Sunny landscape

Vers la mer.

Winter in the village

Dilema

April forest no.4

Paysages 109

Paysages 108

La corde sensible

Sud j'aime tes couleurs

Le souffle. des rêves

Balcon sur la mer

Silence

Summer on the Tisza River

Evening Trees

In the Shadow

Morning in the Backlighting

Between the Trees

Trees

Sous le soleil de mon petit paradis édition

My Way

A Forgotten Swing

Landscape swatch N°3

Encrage n°1

Swimming In Spain

Eté dans le Berry

En juin au bord de la rivière

Branch Study No. 16

Scene

Swallow No. 42

By the Pool

Birches, Vermont

Roadside, Vermont

Paysage

Aspettando Godot

Cheminement

Waterfall 2

Serenity of the mountains

One touch of nature

Into the heart of Provence

Chat

Journey Home: Preserving Serenity

Vue sur les toits. Vue 15

Up all night 3

Paysages 201

Sweet swing

City park XXIII

Rocky coast

Bora Bora easy love

Glare Study III

Red Sand

?herry orchard

Waiting for spring

Blossoming

Le Cerf malade

Light in the forest

After the snow

Barn Idyllic