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

Liquid Love

Vertiges

Changeons la vie

Binti mrembo (beautiful girl)

Sans titre

Paysage village 1

Male Nr. 121701

Marbles

Sand castles

Jardins villa Barbarigo (Série reflets)

Nick Cave

Dr. Lima Gold

Innertube Vision 3

Astatic (Danilowitz 116)

Azur

Some hard clouds looks soft

Enigma IV - scène de vie onirique inspiré du paysage d'Hourtin plage, presqu'île du Médoc

Romantic lake. Askania Nova

Between You and Me I

Fragment 3

9 to 5

Surreal Cemetery

No. 96

Untitled

Love bottle 3d wild

THETIS

Untitled

Untitled

L'ange

Keni

Aiguille du plan, Dent de Requin à Chamonix n°1

Chemin de vie I frêne

Sans interdits

Avoir l'oeil

Menton (RF01)

Blue Tiger

Trio de la reine

Andi with Rolleiflex in Yamamoto coat

Moon Girl

La lettre

Mer de nuages - Paysage celeste

Field Notes Series

Immortelle 2

Mouvement

Doggy John

Summertime… and the livin’ is easy

Pin up girl and jack pot 03

Prisme Bleuté

Artists Vantage Point

Untitled

Without title

Abstract in black

Rock your mind

Moon Light

Léa

Abstrait N° 475

Cycle - série couleurs outre-mer

Soy feliz...Si nada te quita el sueño

Oups

Untitled

Composition

Calanque méditerranéenne

Coquelicots N°2 violet

N°I-9321-Blue ellipse

Composition

Roses bleues