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…

Search by Image

Save your search and find it in your favorites

18/100 1 10 16 17 18 19 20 30 40 50 60 70 80 90 100

Categories

Subcategories

Small

A little impulse

Harbor in Motion

Blooming Abundance

Calligrammes - Rare book illustrated

Reciprocity 8

Untitled

couleurs Majorelle II

Nénuphars IX

Parti pris II

Elite Discourse

Rhinocopter

Secret Soul

The Distruction

Untitled

Memoirs of loss V

Scoop 2

Memoir of loss X

jo ' Les invalides- Tour Eiffeil

Portrait de fille

Tools of Creation

7542

Vase "Fruit of Life"

Natursemilunar II

Lady and news

The Family Scheme

La broche

Estels naixents

Portrait

Untitled #29

Untitled #22

Untitled #4

Untitled #3

Untitled #1

BIOS-PG-XVII

Babel

L'arrivée de l'Oiseau de Feu

Michel Desjoyeaux

Both these expressions and especially the first are remarkable.

33 Tours

Printemps

A sunny day in the pine forest

Sailboat at sea

Conversion of Colors

L‘ennemi est en Vue

Garden Flowers IX

Harmony With Nature

Mon précieux

Emotional Power V

Mechanic body

Reading letter

Entre les jambes

Midnight In Prague

Crimson Beauty

Wildflower Bouquet

7552

Abstraction V

Poule faisane

Poule faisane

Shannon in Profile

Rêverie

Cupid and White Dove

Les boules

Lemons on white

Lemons

Family

Fritz en tenue de Général