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

Uppercut

La gargouille

La Mère Fénollan (la Mère marchande)

Untitled

Portrait de Sophie

Hat and glasses

Untitled

Portrait of Italo Balbo

Girl and Two Suitors

Red Thread#3

Dalí

Sèrie Albades. Albada 02

Composition

Mariana Mirage

Icon Betty

Roitelet couronné

Little Gulliver

Sans titre #1

Dream Lake 2

In the time of dreaming

Moonlight

C'est déjà si loin

Louiza

Portrait of man

Anticipation of Cake

Chinese Interior #1

Jeunes filles

Il s'en va

Gabriel García Márquez Portrait

Patways to bliss 1

Le retour

Scissors Hand

Andy, you rock

Untitled #10 From Los Infortunios De La Virtud Series

James Clerk Maxwell

Rencontre

Gucumatz

Girls

Man lying down

Woman

Back to basic

Mantras

Eclosion N°1 - Représentation imaginaire stylisée

Bob Ooblong

78116

Woman

La touareg du Sahara

Sweet space voyage

Hero Time (Yellow)

Jeune fille

2023-1142 / Visages et corps expressionnistes - série rouge et noir

Aramata

Aux armes

Entertaining

Vivien

Untitled drawing

Sans titre

Mother and Child

Portrait of a Man

Dollars

Rufina Amaya survivante et militante salvadorienne - série hommage, technique ancestrale du découpage Suisse

Sans titre

Hunter

Portrait of Indian Women

Sans Titre

Call me President