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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Subcategories

Small

Lush lilac

The Meeting Place

Est-ce que le rouge attire le bleu ?

Magritte was here

Winter Forest

L'océan au fond du jardin

Paysage montagne N°10

The end of the storm

Jungle premier

Le miroir du ciel

Contact color - Moon N°6

Sans titre 5

A travers les pins - Calanque du port d'Alon

Ecume N°1

Windswept

Above and Below

Adrift

Winter

Côtes d'Armor

Love in the tropics

Vue sur Genève, le Jura et le lac Léman

Summer impressions. Cafe. Croatia

The last days of summer

In the Spring Field

White abstract landscape in 3, minimalistic textured Pop Art, plaster, snow

Seagull

At the river

Au plus près

San Francisco Bay, lithographie originale

030809

Solitude

Pearl's Fantasy

Origine -22B

Blooming Waters

Holy Night

Leitmotif sur une Ondulation II (paysage marin, mer, vagues)

Silence of a forest

Pins au bord de la mer, Bretagne

New Day

Abstract Landscape. 9.27.22

Abstract Landscape. 9.28.22

Abstract Landscape 20.7.19

Abstract Landscape 7.11.22

Abstract Landscape. 6.01.22

Summer sketch

A Meeting Place

Autumn Talks/3

Melancholy Trees

Shades

Insolite

Végétation colorée 3

Végétation colorée 2

Végétation colorée

Beneath the Fading Sun

Soleil levant

Paysage cubiste

Paysage

Paysage aux deux arbres

La montagne rose

Nature et éléments

Nature et imaginaire

Impressions paysagères

Ciel flamboyant

Palmier flamboyant

Métamorphose

Coucher de soleil