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

Frosty patterns

Apolline

Passando o tempo, passando as horas XIII

Cocnet

La méduse

RTU176012

DOT Terra Cotta

A Man with a Bag

L'illusion - série Abstraction

Paysages 251

86

Mickey spread Art - What Party

Le Corbu

Péché Mignon

Babolex Snoop Dogg

Under Balinese Sun - Water

Hard Reset VII

Untitled

Hellebore No. 30

Fulles de tardor

Tricky Town, the collapsed city. N°6

Tierras Naranjas (1)

Small Maelstrom (Ref 855)

Ondas 1

Wild Flower

Petit chat d'arrêt

From the Series Passion

Mauvais endroit

Dialogue-2

Extractor

Sans titre

Maru #13

Cercle Yang

About Terrorism

Perrache

Espectadors

Marbles

19.6.17

Queen

Zelda Life Half

The Ladder of Jacob

Pojukx

Stay High

Once Given a White Rose 2

Mini Misty

Hold Up

About Happiness

Funky 1

Storm Approaching XIV

Royale

Icing 02

Paysage abstrait I

Forme Rouge

Brave new world

Platform-3

Composition V4

Numerazione lineare

Untitled

The Future god

Marilyn

Ventre de Paris

À Table

Sans-Titre

Breath

Innertube Vision 3

Moon Girl