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

Partie de billes — vue du haut

Komposition 39/02

Komposition 76/02

Valley

Impact

Regret

La Confession

Les Petites Femmes de Pigalle

La Natue de Mars

Icone

La Passe

Les Orphelins

Philosophe

Romance de la Nature

Livre

A greener grass

Beauté 18

Beauté 16

Beauté 13

Beauté 10

Beauté 11

Beauté 7

Beauté 5

Beauté 9

Beauté I

Beauté II

Beauté III

VG1

Untitled Jan 02

D.P 04

Another flower

Riverside 07

Riverside 05

Riverside 04

Falling in my garden

Falling in my garden

Falling in my garden

N° 1183 Ile d'Aix. Façade Nord de l'église abbatiale.

Circus

Patrician

Mondrian Desir

Cover n°6

Nose Hill in the Rain

Signal

Untitled 2

Untitled 3

Untitled

Smooth Jazz

Red

Une pensée utile

Les chemins du silence n°5 - série Paysage et forêt

Hana08_F050

Hana05_F009

Hana06_F011

Hana01_99

Hana09_F62

Hana11_F72

Hana12_F4794

Hana04_5062

Hana10_F69

Hana02_2458

Hana20_F5042

Hana14_F5000

Hana16_F5010

hana19_F5035

Pears