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, Audrey Hepburn, Bridgeman

Bridgeman

Photography - 30 x 24 x 0.05 cm Photography - 11.8 x 9.4 x 0 inch

$303

Fine Art Drawings, Homeland, Valeria Radzievska

Valeria Radzievska

Fine Art Drawings - 25.4 x 35.6 x 0.5 cm Fine Art Drawings - 10 x 14 x 0.2 inch

$350

Painting, Brane, Christophe Mirallès

Christophe Mirallès

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

$1,455

Photography, Le panier, Claude Vesco

Claude Vesco

Photography - 40 x 30 x 1 cm Photography - 15.7 x 11.8 x 0.4 inch

$546

Sculpture, Bois brûlé, Jil Joannin

Jil Joannin

Sculpture - 33 x 20 x 20 cm Sculpture - 13 x 7.9 x 7.9 inch

$1,092

Print, Sans titre, Monique Tello

Monique Tello

Print - 50 x 50 x 0.1 cm Print - 19.7 x 19.7 x 0 inch

$667

Photography, Chasm Lake, Tom Reed

Tom Reed

Photography - 35.6 x 27.9 x 0.3 cm Photography - 14 x 11 x 0.1 inch

$175

Fine Art Drawings, Saskia, Christine Connelly

Christine Connelly

Fine Art Drawings - 29 x 21 cm Fine Art Drawings - 11.4 x 8.3 inch

$352

Sculpture, Unheimliche, Karine Payette

Karine Payette

Sculpture - 38 x 22 x 22 cm Sculpture - 15 x 8.7 x 8.7 inch

$8,733

Photography, Picasso, Gjon Mili

Gjon Mili

Photography - 30 x 24 x 0.05 cm Photography - 11.8 x 9.4 x 0 inch

$303

Photography, Courant I, Julie Pluss

Julie Pluss

Photography - 30 x 45 x 0.5 cm Photography - 11.8 x 17.7 x 0.2 inch

$461

Photography, Picasso, André Sartres

André Sartres

Photography - 30 x 20 x 0.05 cm Photography - 11.8 x 7.9 x 0 inch

$424

Painting, The Night, Anatole

Anatole

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

$182

Painting, Freddie, Edgar Plans

Edgar Plans

Painting - 30 x 30 x 5 cm Painting - 11.8 x 11.8 x 2 inch

$13,340

Fine Art Drawings, Untitled, Romain Duris

Romain Duris

Fine Art Drawings - 29.6 x 20.4 cm Fine Art Drawings - 11.7 x 8 inch

$2,426

Fine Art Drawings, Afrikaans, Korede Solaja

Korede Solaja

Fine Art Drawings - 49 x 39 x 1 cm Fine Art Drawings - 19.3 x 15.4 x 0.4 inch

$2,273

Sculpture, Grégoire, Agathe Daher

Agathe Daher

Sculpture - 30 x 30 x 20 cm Sculpture - 11.8 x 11.8 x 7.9 inch

$3,639

Photography, untitled, Vanessa Henn

Vanessa Henn

Photography - 30 x 21 x 0.1 cm Photography - 11.8 x 8.3 x 0 inch

$728

Painting, Fractal #008, Lek

Lek

Painting - 50 x 50 x 4 cm Painting - 19.7 x 19.7 x 1.6 inch

$1,455

Painting, Evelyn, Badriot

Badriot

Painting - 31 x 21 x 0.5 cm Painting - 12.2 x 8.3 x 0.2 inch

$3,032 $1,516

Sculpture, Lump N4, Mehnoush Modonpour

Mehnoush Modonpour

Sculpture - 30 x 23 x 15 cm Sculpture - 11.8 x 9.1 x 5.9 inch

$1,092

Print, Hako III, Mitsuo Miura

Mitsuo Miura

Print - 38.1 x 27.9 cm Print - 15 x 11 inch

$230

Fine Art Drawings, The last call, Karim Benchebra

Karim Benchebra

Fine Art Drawings - 30 x 40 x 0.1 cm Fine Art Drawings - 11.8 x 15.7 x 0 inch

$2,062

Fine Art Drawings, Volatiles, Korsé

Korsé

Fine Art Drawings - 29.7 x 42 x 1 cm Fine Art Drawings - 11.7 x 16.5 x 0.4 inch

$1,213

Fine Art Drawings, Promenade, Yao Bai

Yao Bai

Fine Art Drawings - 37 x 34 x 1 cm Fine Art Drawings - 14.6 x 13.4 x 0.4 inch

$1,516

Fine Art Drawings, Œdipe I, Guy Oberson

Guy Oberson

Fine Art Drawings - 47.5 x 36 cm Fine Art Drawings - 18.7 x 14.2 inch

$1,213

Print, Sans titre, Marion Semple

Marion Semple

Print - 50 x 35 x 1 cm Print - 19.7 x 13.8 x 0.4 inch

$170

Fine Art Drawings, Untitled, Rudy Montoya

Rudy Montoya

Fine Art Drawings - 50.8 x 20.3 x 2.5 cm Fine Art Drawings - 20 x 8 x 1 inch

$450

Sculpture, Waiting For Luv, Ly

Ly

Sculpture - 33 x 30.5 x 30.5 cm Sculpture - 13 x 12 x 12 inch

$2,183

Painting, Femme nu, Zhuo Chen

Zhuo Chen

Painting - 38 x 27 x 1 cm Painting - 15 x 10.6 x 0.4 inch

$728

Fine Art Drawings, Ascension, Anaïs Charras

Anaïs Charras

Fine Art Drawings - 40 x 30 x 0.1 cm Fine Art Drawings - 15.7 x 11.8 x 0 inch

$1,092

Fine Art Drawings, Gina, Lorette Le Brestec

Lorette Le Brestec

Fine Art Drawings - 40 x 30 cm Fine Art Drawings - 15.7 x 11.8 inch

$970

Photography, Abandon, Maximilien Diaz

Maximilien Diaz

Photography - 30 x 40 x 1 cm Photography - 11.8 x 15.7 x 0.4 inch

$970

Sculpture, Vandal, MissMe

MissMe

Sculpture - 30 x 10 x 10 cm Sculpture - 11.8 x 3.9 x 3.9 inch

$1,807

Print, Lauren, Robert Hartshorn

Robert Hartshorn

Print - 35.6 x 27.9 x 5.1 cm Print - 14 x 11 x 2 inch

$1,950

Fine Art Drawings, Nude of Woman, Toti Scialoja

Toti Scialoja

Fine Art Drawings - 36.3 x 26.2 x 0.1 cm Fine Art Drawings - 14.3 x 10.3 x 0 inch

$1,455

Fine Art Drawings, Untitled, Enrique Grau

Enrique Grau

Fine Art Drawings - 30.5 x 22.9 x 0.3 cm Fine Art Drawings - 12 x 9 x 0.1 inch

$1,500

Fine Art Drawings, Birth, Evrim Özeskici

Evrim Özeskici

Fine Art Drawings - 28 x 21 x 0.3 cm Fine Art Drawings - 11 x 8.3 x 0.1 inch

$424

Fine Art Drawings, Nude of Woman, Gaspard Maillol

Gaspard Maillol

Fine Art Drawings - 27.5 x 24.5 x 0.1 cm Fine Art Drawings - 10.8 x 9.6 x 0 inch

$485

Print, MK 3, Euan Macleod

Euan Macleod

Print - 30 x 22 cm Print - 11.8 x 8.7 inch

$2,668

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