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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Photography, Folium 9, Francesco Mussida

Francesco Mussida

Photography . 46 x 30.5 x 0.3 cm Photography . 18.1 x 12 x 0.1 inch

€1,300

Painting, Portal (pink ) I, Susan L

Susan L

Painting . 50 x 40 x 4 cm Painting . 19.7 x 15.7 x 1.6 inch

€1,807

Fine Art Drawings, Miro’s Dilemma, Stankey

Stankey

Fine Art Drawings . 27 x 27 x 0.5 cm Fine Art Drawings . 10.6 x 10.6 x 0.2 inch

€1,700

Painting, Barcelona II, Paul Landauer

Paul Landauer

Painting . 38.5 x 30 x 0.1 cm Painting . 15.2 x 11.8 x 0 inch

€1,084

Fine Art Drawings, Untitled, Doïna Vieru

Doïna Vieru

Fine Art Drawings . 41.5 x 30 x 0.1 cm Fine Art Drawings . 16.3 x 11.8 x 0 inch

€800

Sculpture, Gathering, Philip Hearsey

Philip Hearsey

Sculpture . 16 x 27 x 19 cm Sculpture . 6.3 x 10.6 x 7.5 inch

€2,500

Painting, ID165, Aivars Kisnics

Aivars Kisnics

Painting . 21 x 30 x 1 cm Painting . 8.3 x 11.8 x 0.4 inch

€250

Sculpture, Mutations, Andrius Erminas

Andrius Erminas

Sculpture . 38 x 26 x 26 cm Sculpture . 15 x 10.2 x 10.2 inch

€1,000

Painting, Under Cloud, BB.Queen

BB.Queen

Painting . 30.5 x 20.3 x 0.3 cm Painting . 12 x 8 x 0.1 inch

€1,200

Painting, Another trip, Calat

Calat

Painting . 30 x 30 x 2 cm Painting . 11.8 x 11.8 x 0.8 inch

€625

Painting, Rose Up, Ryan Crotty

Ryan Crotty

Painting . 35 x 27.5 x 2 cm Painting . 13.8 x 10.8 x 0.8 inch

€2,880

Painting, Street Life, Karl Lagasse

Karl Lagasse

Painting . 50 x 40 x 2 cm Painting . 19.7 x 15.7 x 0.8 inch

€2,500

Painting, Volte Face, Sabrina Viola

Sabrina Viola

Painting . 50 x 50 x 2 cm Painting . 19.7 x 19.7 x 0.8 inch

€1,800

Painting, Fields 9.9, Joëlle Cabanne

Joëlle Cabanne

Painting . 42 x 29.7 x 2.5 cm Painting . 16.5 x 11.7 x 1 inch

€800

Painting, N° COL1021P2, Kyung-Ae Hur

Kyung-Ae Hur

Painting . 50 x 50 x 2 cm Painting . 19.7 x 19.7 x 0.8 inch

€7,600

Painting, Resonance V, Susan L

Susan L

Painting . 40 x 40 x 4 cm Painting . 15.7 x 15.7 x 1.6 inch

€1,608

Painting, P006, Eric Cruikshank

Eric Cruikshank

Painting . 44 x 37 x 0.1 cm Painting . 17.3 x 14.6 x 0 inch

€2,409

Sculpture, Hokie, Scott Troxel

Scott Troxel

Sculpture . 33 x 23 x 6 cm Sculpture . 13 x 9.1 x 2.4 inch

€1,050

Sculpture, MNE, Petar Kras

MNE

Petar Kras

Sculpture . 28 x 21 x 5 cm Sculpture . 11 x 8.3 x 2 inch

€1,870

Sculpture, Bloon, Manon Oller

Manon Oller

Sculpture . 28 x 28 x 22 cm Sculpture . 11 x 11 x 8.7 inch

€700

Painting, Sans Titre, Laurent HDBX

Laurent HDBX

Painting . 50 x 50 x 12 cm Painting . 19.7 x 19.7 x 4.7 inch

€1,550

Painting, Incarnadine, Anya Spielman

Anya Spielman

Painting . 35.6 x 15.2 x 0.1 cm Painting . 14 x 6 x 0 inch

€1,747

Print, Sans titre, Momies

Momies

Print . 21 x 29.5 x 0.1 cm Print . 8.3 x 11.6 x 0 inch

€90

Fine Art Drawings, Crewin’, Bunkt_

Bunkt_

Fine Art Drawings . 43.2 x 35.6 cm Fine Art Drawings . 17 x 14 inch

€113

Print, Graphito, Jacob Diboum

Jacob Diboum

Print . 34 x 24 x 0.1 cm Print . 13.4 x 9.4 x 0 inch

€150

Painting, Goodbye 4, Luca Brandi

Luca Brandi

Painting . 45 x 35 x 0.5 cm Painting . 17.7 x 13.8 x 0.2 inch

€600

Painting, Goodbye 5, Luca Brandi

Luca Brandi

Painting . 45 x 35 x 0.1 cm Painting . 17.7 x 13.8 x 0 inch

€600

Painting, Vitrail I, Cécile Girard

Cécile Girard

Painting . 45 x 44 x 1 cm Painting . 17.7 x 17.3 x 0.4 inch

€800

Painting, Hanabi. 32, Sia Aryai

Sia Aryai

Painting . 50.8 x 40.6 x 0.5 cm Painting . 20 x 16 x 0.2 inch

€949

Painting, Flux I, Sylvette Dauchet

Sylvette Dauchet

Painting . 40 x 40 x 1 cm Painting . 15.7 x 15.7 x 0.4 inch

€600

Painting, Best wishes, Shiori Nakano

Shiori Nakano

Painting . 23 x 30.5 x 0.2 cm Painting . 9.1 x 12 x 0.1 inch

€300

Painting, Fleurs III, Claire Fournier

Claire Fournier

Painting . 49 x 49 x 1 cm Painting . 19.3 x 19.3 x 0.4 inch

€450

Painting, 7749, Renato Spagnoli

Renato Spagnoli

Painting . 50 x 50 x 0.2 cm Painting . 19.7 x 19.7 x 0.1 inch

€1,900

Painting, Rainbow Cloud, BB.Queen

BB.Queen

Painting . 20.3 x 30.5 x 0.3 cm Painting . 8 x 12 x 0.1 inch

€1,200

Painting, Landscape 2, Lika Sarishvili

Lika Sarishvili

Painting . 44 x 44 x 0.3 cm Painting . 17.3 x 17.3 x 0.1 inch

€2,000

Painting, D.P 04, Guillaume Moschini

Guillaume Moschini

Painting . 46 x 27 x 2 cm Painting . 18.1 x 10.6 x 0.8 inch

€1,144

Painting, Carta de amor, Yuri Zatarain

Yuri Zatarain

Painting . 35 x 45 x 3 cm Painting . 13.8 x 17.7 x 1.2 inch

€13,800

Painting, Thinking 8, Luca Brandi

Luca Brandi

Painting . 41 x 31 x 0.5 cm Painting . 16.1 x 12.2 x 0.2 inch

€600

Fine Art Drawings, Fossile, Xavier Albert Fiala

Xavier Albert Fiala

Fine Art Drawings . 36.5 x 23 x 0.3 cm Fine Art Drawings . 14.4 x 9.1 x 0.1 inch

€657

Painting, Wound, Lile Gasviani

Lile Gasviani

Painting . 20 x 30 x 2 cm Painting . 7.9 x 11.8 x 0.8 inch

€950

Painting, Paysage, Assadour Bezdikian

Assadour Bezdikian

Painting . 24 x 41 x 2 cm Painting . 9.4 x 16.1 x 0.8 inch

€4,000

Painting, Circles, Marie Caviale

Marie Caviale

Painting . 50 x 40 x 0.1 cm Painting . 19.7 x 15.7 x 0 inch

€1,200

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