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

16/100 1 10 14 15 16 17 18 20 30 40 50 60 70 80 90 100

Categories

Subcategories

Small

Evening glow-small sunset river landscape

Cloned Griffon Bruxellois with pet bottle

Norina's Room

Divine Elegance, no.I/VIII (large size)

Japanese meadow daisies

Dragon rock

Evasion

Fiddlemania II

Colorful wink

Le Petit Prince

Fiddlemania I

Black Lines II

Minimalism IV

Minimalism II

Bella

Marilyn in Famous Black Dress (1962)

Clares IV (6/8)

Abstraction IV

Rythme cosmique - Cosmic rhythm

Eclipse éthérée - Ethereal eclipse

Espaces ouverts

Rosa Bracteata

Bouganvillea

Ipomea

El Barbudo

El Principe

Hmsrio

Atom mit Lampen III

Bats

Untitled #5

Visions of the Unseen

Renaissance bleue

L'Air du Temps, 1

Currency #238

Tree of Life

White Spirit IV

It might rain

Zirkulationszeit: Kopf H.B.

Havana café

Happy Hours II

The Old and Soldier

Gardener

Le Petit Prince

Interrogation EA3/4

Sotto Tarsia

Sans titre

Algeria! Algeria!

Cloned Marmot with pet bottle

Studio per fantasia per violino

Schwurhand: Zelt und Lichtstrahl

Rose

Trois

Klébera

Ali I

Kringel Dunkellila / Orange-Pink

Para que los cocodrilos duerman en largas filas

Xenestela 7. From The Series Xenestela

Xenestela 6. From The Series Xenestela

Xenestela 5. From The Series Xenestela

Ombre en silence

Monde en contraste

Lueur intemporelle - Timeless glow

Equilibre céleste - Celestial equilibrium

Apparition _ Appearance

Dionysus

War Baby