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

24-Circus

Breathe

Untitled (44)

The paranoid likes to make people paranoid

Two figures

Sans titre

Apolline

86

Picasso

Péché Mignon

Babolex Snoop Dogg

Portrait de Leopold Zborowski (d'après)

Dialogue-2

Sans titre

The Ladder of Jacob

Once Given a White Rose 2

Hold Up

Carré d'as

Mauvais endroit

Brave new world

The guiding light, Painting, Acrylic on canvas

The Future god

Sans-Titre

Ecoute II

Moon Girl

Andi with Rolleiflex in Yamamoto coat

La lettre

Girl at the table

Castor et Pollux

Who Are These Angels CXLIII

Vertiges

Binti mrembo (beautiful girl)

Récompensé

Queen

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

Délia Fille de la Mer

Soy feliz...Si nada te quita el sueño

Untitled

L'ange

Mouvement

Focus of attention

THETIS

Joyful Moment 1 - 21st Century, Contemporary, Figurative Portrait, Children

The bill! Please

Joy of Life (sculpture on table mirror)

Portrait II

Corset, Portrait of an Equestrienne

Lecture

yellow pylon worker

L'eau est froide

Nick Cave

La mélodie des oiseaux qui passent

Cache cache sur le pont

Sans titre

Scoop 1

Trio de la reine

Geisha

La femme au chignon

La Nena XS

010 Leta

El grupo (Colección La Bolsa Mágica)

Climb a Dream

Fougère amazone

Salpetrière, portrait #1

Gaze 2 - Contemporary, 21st Century, Contemporary, Figurative, Portrait, Women

Totem Portrait of Modern People