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

Landing

The Powder Tower

Split Shadow

Emotion 20200831

Emotion 20200606

Dancing With Van Gogh

Silent Dancers

Moon Dancer

Sun Dancer

Andalucia

Paysages premiers VI

Ilot 7

St Giles, Cripplegate

Superman

Disengaged

Guru

Machu Picchu

Gordes. Provence

Lucca. Tuscany, Italy

Too much rain

Bird and flower

Letters Of A Traveler

Nollendorfplatz

Swanston Street view from Princes Bridge

Entre el pantano

In a dessert on the way to Sedona

The Wind isn't blowing in Petrified Forest (The Painted Desert)

Passion to travel. Cats in Mohave desert

Visisons of Sedona. Meditation on the way to Boyton Canyon.

Visions of Sedona. Tlaquepaque

Visions of Sedona

Young Leo. From The art, culture & society Series series

The Rhapsody Of Blue Mountains

The Mountains Kissed By The Sun

Le dernier soleil 5

Le dernier soleil 3

Le dernier soleil

Le dernier soleil 2

Thought

Rhythm

Family Time

Vivid

Clouds

Space Stories

Panspermia

Drawing

Salinas del Mar Menor

Flor de almendro

Grass Study No. 3

Nodo Inglese

Swallow No. 39

Swallow No. 38

Iris No. 93

Gulliver

Été

Anemone No. 10

Lily

Iris No. 206

Iris No. 202

Iris No. 203

Iris No. 204

Iris No. 205

Hellebore No. 38

Heron No. 31

Pileated Woodpecker

Pileated Woodpecker No. 2