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

La douceur d'Aix en Provence

Golden Passage

Grasses - Shadows are blue

Two Landscapes20

Two Landscapes14

Tropical

Provence.Lovesick wastelands - landscape by Liliya Volskaya.

Les yeux du chat

Field in Geislar

Geislar

Expression 28.

Boats in the Harbor, Rockport, Maine

Joe's Barn, New York

Harbor (1)

Orchard in spring

Landscape with houses

Spring 2024 54

Magic pond

Wild blue flowers

La porte de Merzouga

Snape, Suffolk

Shingle Street II

Networked

Silent magic

Spilled sky.

Winter Fades

Come Winter

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Water Fairies

Village de campagne 3

Paysages 217

Paysages 218

Marée basse

La baie des lecques

Nymphée

Senteur Provençale

Oliviers aux Pins

Petite barrière

Nature's blue gem. 2

Nature's blue gem. 1

Water Lily pond in the Blue

Paysages de Chine 19

Volcan fumée orange

Bean in jungle

Le lisseur de dunes

Debout

Terre d'hiver

Quand les mystères sont très malins IV

Quand les mystères sont très malins III

Quand les mystères sont très malins II

El patrimonio

Colors of the summer horizon

River among mountains

The Guard

Coffee

Paysage recomposé n°4

Fisherman and Pond

Foret de Broceliande

Study for Regents Park

Study for Green Park

On the Trail in Hampstead Heath

Les pins blancs

Home

Purification

Hear the Silence

Spiritual Sobornost