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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Sculpture, Fred, Bruno Roudil

Fred

Bruno Roudil

Sculpture - 25 x 50 x 17 cm Sculpture - 9.8 x 19.7 x 6.7 inch

$474

Painting, Skyblue Sun, tizlu

Skyblue Sun

tizlu

Painting - 50 x 20 x 2.5 cm Painting - 19.7 x 7.9 x 1 inch

$1,271

Design, Time off Blue, Kaws

Time off Blue

Kaws

Design - 20 x 32 x 15 cm Design - 7.9 x 12.6 x 5.9 inch

$1,156

Painting, Red book, Galya Popova

Red book

Galya Popova

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

$694

Painting, A found, Galya Popova

A found

Galya Popova

Painting - 30 x 24 x 2 cm Painting - 11.8 x 9.4 x 0.8 inch

$578

Print, Shell, Jef Aérosol

Shell

Jef Aérosol

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

$763

Painting, Lightness, Galya Popova

Lightness

Galya Popova

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

$1,560

Print, Drifting, tizlu

Drifting

tizlu

Print - 40 x 40 x 0.1 cm Print - 15.7 x 15.7 x 0 inch

$405

Fine Art Drawings, Drifting (Papyrus), tizlu

Drifting (Papyrus)

tizlu

Fine Art Drawings - 34 x 25 x 0.1 cm Fine Art Drawings - 13.4 x 9.8 x 0 inch

$1,017

Painting, Sans titre, Ladislas Kijno

Sans titre

Ladislas Kijno

Painting - 30.3 x 22 x 4 cm Painting - 11.9 x 8.7 x 1.6 inch

$2,890

Painting, Ferragosto, Galya Popova

Ferragosto

Galya Popova

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

$982

Painting, Sheep, Menashe Kadishman

Sheep

Menashe Kadishman

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

$1,250

Photography, Saudade, James Sparshatt

Saudade

James Sparshatt

Photography - 40 x 50 x 0.1 cm Photography - 15.7 x 19.7 x 0 inch

$817

Painting, Untitled, Teppei Ikehila

Untitled

Teppei Ikehila

Painting - 33 x 33 x 3 cm Painting - 13 x 13 x 1.2 inch

$717

Sculpture, Donne V, Nando Kallweit

Donne V

Nando Kallweit

Sculpture - 26 x 19 x 7 cm Sculpture - 10.2 x 7.5 x 2.8 inch

$2,540

Painting, Sitting Bull, C215

Sitting Bull

C215

Painting - 29.5 x 40.5 cm Painting - 11.6 x 15.9 inch

$2,890

Sculpture, Hair France, Gaspard Mitz

Hair France

Gaspard Mitz

Sculpture - 24 x 34 x 6.5 cm Sculpture - 9.4 x 13.4 x 2.6 inch

$809

Fine Art Drawings, Not With Me (Papyrus), tizlu

Not With Me (Papyrus)

tizlu

Fine Art Drawings - 34 x 25 x 0.1 cm Fine Art Drawings - 13.4 x 9.8 x 0 inch

$1,017

Painting, Pressure, Galya Popova

Pressure

Galya Popova

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

$1,503

Painting, Black and white, JM Robert

Black and white

JM Robert

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

$1,040

Painting, Dandy, David Jamin

Dandy

David Jamin

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

$774

Print, Untitled, Levalet

Untitled

Levalet

Print - 42 x 30 cm Print - 16.5 x 11.8 inch

$231

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