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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Painting, Abstract No. 88, Gina Vor

Gina Vor

Painting . 39.5 x 29.5 x 0.3 cm Painting . 15.6 x 11.6 x 0.1 inch

€200

Print, Goldorak, Ysy

Ysy

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

€380

Painting, Untitled, Vicente Verdú

Vicente Verdú

Painting . 27.3 x 25 cm Painting . 10.7 x 9.8 inch

€500

Painting, Eros, Nico Pichon

Nico Pichon

Painting . 40 x 30 x 5 cm Painting . 15.7 x 11.8 x 2 inch

€500

Painting, Man Giacometti Colors, Spaco

Spaco

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

€190

Painting, Jesus Christ Colors, Spaco

Spaco

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

€190

Painting, Le cri de Frida Kahlo, Spaco

Spaco

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

€200

Painting, PoP Haring Colors, Spaco

Spaco

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

€200

Painting, Roger Federer, PyB

PyB

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

€200

Fine Art Drawings, Guru, Peter Max

Peter Max

Fine Art Drawings . 34.9 x 30.5 x 0.3 cm Fine Art Drawings . 13.75 x 12 x 0.1 inch

€3,078

Painting, Hidden Story 13, Petr Strnad

Petr Strnad

Painting . 42.2 x 29.7 x 0.1 cm Painting . 16.6 x 11.7 x 0 inch

€280

Painting, Burbuja segura, El Toni

El Toni

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

€500

Painting, Hidden Story 7., Petr Strnad

Petr Strnad

Painting . 40.6 x 30.4 x 1.9 cm Painting . 16 x 12 x 0.7 inch

€290

Painting, Splash Bronze, Ninu

Ninu

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

€500

Painting, Iris bleu, Léa Damaggio

Léa Damaggio

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

€580

Print, Doomsday, Michael Reeder

Michael Reeder

Print . 48.3 x 33 cm Print . 19 x 13 inch

€250

Painting, Summer landscape, Pol Ledent

Pol Ledent

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

€650

Fine Art Drawings, Face cachée, Jazzu

Jazzu

Fine Art Drawings . 42 x 29 x 0.01 cm Fine Art Drawings . 16.5 x 11.4 x 0 inch

€450

Painting, Einstein & Banksy, Spaco

Spaco

Painting . 40 x 30 x 2 cm Painting . 15.7 x 11.8 x 0.8 inch

€250

Painting, Meditation, Davide Angelillo

Davide Angelillo

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

€160

Painting, Ronde Haring Colors, Spaco

Spaco

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

€200

Sculpture, Acrobates Haring, Spaco

Spaco

Sculpture . 30 x 10 x 6 cm Sculpture . 11.8 x 3.9 x 2.4 inch

€250

Fine Art Drawings, Untitled, Robert Malaval

Robert Malaval

Fine Art Drawings . 27 x 22 x 0.3 cm Fine Art Drawings . 10.6 x 8.7 x 0.1 inch

€1,200

Sculpture, Rabbit Koons, Spaco

Spaco

Sculpture . 32 x 14 x 10 cm Sculpture . 12.6 x 5.5 x 3.9 inch

€270

Painting, Water and Forest, Nestor Toro

Nestor Toro

Painting . 50.8 x 40.6 x 1.8 cm Painting . 20 x 16 x 0.7 inch

€930

Painting, Split Panorama 1, Nestor Toro

Nestor Toro

Painting . 50.8 x 40.6 x 1.8 cm Painting . 20 x 16 x 0.7 inch

€930

Painting, Sunny Dimensions, Nestor Toro

Nestor Toro

Painting . 50.8 x 40.6 x 1.8 cm Painting . 20 x 16 x 0.7 inch

€939

Painting, 001, Thomas Pierre

001

Thomas Pierre

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

€602

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