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

Au creux de ton épaule, on sème

Elégie pour Jean-Mari n° 296

Cocktail Apple F2

Smile Every Day with Flowers!

Provence. The flowering of irises" impressionistic landscape of the Volsky Lily?

La campagne en fleur

Lilac blur

Fleurs noires

Le jardin des lépidoptères

Poisson chinois

Daffodils, Paint jacking

Particule verte

Guardian of the Heart

Top guns

Sweet morning blooms

Fleurs rouge

Etude de nature (1)

La douceur des vagues

Lilacs in a vase

Les beaux débuts

Coffee Blues Black

Festival Flower Decoration

Caché derrière

Grey Gingko

Waiting for spring

July

Bouquet

Pop Flower Galactic 2

Red rose

Fleurs Rêveuses #4

Assiette

Aurum 11

Wild pink flowers

Two yellow trees

Provence 4524

A summer meadow

Blue spring

Nympheas

Wild flowers

Spring in my garden

Red poppies and blue cornflowers

Green pond

Foxgloves

My provence rest place

Echanted garden

My garden 5524

Forest fruits

Jungle Orange & Jaune sur noir

Berger contemplatif

Sunset jungle

Cobra

Diogenes in a search for an honest man

Untitled 263

Christmas Cactus

Pop Up Flower

Summer Soul

Vessel of Bloom

Evening flowers - landscape of the Volsky Lily

No Valid Name #3

Transparent peonies

Blosssom #02-3121

Fleurs II

Silhouette on Roses

S217 Le Derviche Tourneur -1

Les lumières du Mimosas… (Souvenirs du sud)

Eternal Recurrence #22