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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Abandoned roses necklace (Identity Testimonies series)
Imanol Marrodán
Photography - 30 x 45 x 0.1 cm Photography - 11.8 x 17.7 x 0 inch
$596
Kate With Tassles - Limited Edition Mick Rock Estate Print
Mick Rock
Photography - 40 x 40 x 0.1 cm Photography - 15.7 x 15.7 x 0 inch
$2,354
Étude Buste 08
Sandrine Verdier
Sculpture - 43 x 20 x 15 cm Sculpture - 16.9 x 7.9 x 5.9 inch
$2,420
Étude Buste 06
Sandrine Verdier
Sculpture - 36 x 24 x 17 cm Sculpture - 14.2 x 9.4 x 6.7 inch
$2,384
Étude Buste 19
Sandrine Verdier
Sculpture - 47 x 24 x 18 cm Sculpture - 18.5 x 9.4 x 7.1 inch
$2,754
Étude Buste 02
Sandrine Verdier
Sculpture - 35 x 20 x 17 cm Sculpture - 13.8 x 7.9 x 6.7 inch
$2,229
The Boomer Collection - HB3032
Idan Wizen
Photography - 30 x 20 x 0.1 cm Photography - 11.8 x 7.9 x 0 inch
$179
Série Backstage - F0597 – The alien
Idan Wizen
Photography - 30 x 20 x 0.1 cm Photography - 11.8 x 7.9 x 0 inch
$179
Collection Purity - Un Anonyme Nu Dans Le Salon - HB1809
Idan Wizen
Photography - 30 x 20 x 0.1 cm Photography - 11.8 x 7.9 x 0 inch
$179
Collection Purity - Un Anonyme Nu Dans Le Salon - HB1552
Idan Wizen
Photography - 20 x 30 x 0.1 cm Photography - 7.9 x 11.8 x 0 inch
$179
Nu - Raphaelle
Aurélie Trabaud
Fine Art Drawings - 29 x 42 x 0.1 cm Fine Art Drawings - 11.4 x 16.5 x 0 inch
$95
Naked girl - (based on Yuri Pimenov)
Viktor Konotopsky
Painting - 36 x 40 x 2 cm Painting - 14.2 x 15.7 x 0.8 inch
$584
Historia breve de un abrazo
Alexander Grahovsky
Painting - 33 x 41 x 2 cm Painting - 13 x 16.1 x 0.8 inch
$1,073
Dragonfly - Size S
Deborah Zuanazzi
Photography - 20 x 30 x 0.1 cm Photography - 7.9 x 11.8 x 0 inch
$298
Belle endormie 2024
Sylvie Bourely
Sculpture - 12 x 50 x 19 cm Sculpture - 4.7 x 19.7 x 7.5 inch
$1,788
Kira's Tattoo
Richard Dunkley
Photography - 50.8 x 40.6 x 1.3 cm Photography - 20 x 16 x 0.5 inch
$353
Acrobate
Martine Lingelser-Schmidt
Sculpture - 30 x 10 x 10 cm Sculpture - 11.8 x 3.9 x 3.9 inch
$1,192
Sans titre 23
Bruno Fournier
Photography - 30 x 46 x 1 cm Photography - 11.8 x 18.1 x 0.4 inch
$1,550
Sans titre - 19
Bruno Fournier
Photography - 30 x 46 x 1 cm Photography - 11.8 x 18.1 x 0.4 inch
$1,550
Homme nu sur la plage II
Bruno Fournier
Photography - 30 x 30 x 1 cm Photography - 11.8 x 11.8 x 0.4 inch
$1,192
Coup de tête
Bruno Fournier
Photography - 37 x 37 x 1 cm Photography - 14.6 x 14.6 x 0.4 inch
$1,311
XV From The Red Series
Megha Joshi
Painting - 29.7 x 21.1 x 0.3 cm Painting - 11.7 x 8.3 x 0.1 inch
$1,200
XIV From The Red Series
Megha Joshi
Painting - 29.7 x 21.1 x 0.3 cm Painting - 11.7 x 8.3 x 0.1 inch
$1,200
XIII From The Red Series
Megha Joshi
Painting - 29.7 x 21.1 x 0.3 cm Painting - 11.7 x 8.3 x 0.1 inch
$1,200
XVI and XVII Diptych. From The Red Series
Megha Joshi
Painting - 29.7 x 42.2 x 0.3 cm Painting - 11.7 x 16.6 x 0.1 inch
$2,400
Spring red haired lady Printemps La femme aux cheveux rouges
Leonor Fini
Print - 38 x 28 x 0.5 cm Print - 15 x 11 x 0.2 inch
$1,133
Deux amies Two girlfriends in love
Leonor Fini
Print - 38 x 28 x 0.5 cm Print - 15 x 11 x 0.2 inch
$1,061
Corps femme bras en l'air
Sébastien Langloÿs
Sculpture - 34 x 20 x 20 cm Sculpture - 13.4 x 7.9 x 7.9 inch
$2,265
Neural Waves: Surrender to Serenity
Alexandra Papadopoulou
Painting - 40 x 40 x 2 cm Painting - 15.7 x 15.7 x 0.8 inch
$4,649
From Ashes, I Rise: Phoenix of the Soul
Alexandra Papadopoulou
Painting - 50 x 40 x 2 cm Painting - 19.7 x 15.7 x 0.8 inch
$5,722
Rebirth in the Deep
Alexandra Papadopoulou
Painting - 50 x 35 x 2 cm Painting - 19.7 x 13.8 x 0.8 inch
$5,007
Funny Girl
Isabelle Hirtzig
Fine Art Drawings - 30 x 30 x 0.1 cm Fine Art Drawings - 11.8 x 11.8 x 0 inch
$161
3 Figures assises I
Pierre Yermia
Sculpture - 42 x 49 x 16 cm Sculpture - 16.5 x 19.3 x 6.3 inch
$11,325
Aventure d'une libertine XV. From The Secret Album Series
Uwe Ommer
Photography - 37 x 30 x 0.3 cm Photography - 14.6 x 11.8 x 0.1 inch
$2,000
Aventure d'une libertine VI. From The Secret Album Series
Uwe Ommer
Photography - 37 x 30 x 0.3 cm Photography - 14.6 x 11.8 x 0.1 inch
$2,000
Aventure d'une libertine XVI. From The Secret Album Series
Uwe Ommer
Photography - 37 x 30 x 0.3 cm Photography - 14.6 x 11.8 x 0.1 inch
$2,000
Aventure d'une libertine XIII. From The Secret Album Series
Uwe Ommer
Photography - 37 x 30 x 0.3 cm Photography - 14.6 x 11.8 x 0.1 inch
$2,000
Aventure d'une libertine X. From The Secret Album Series
Uwe Ommer
Photography - 37 x 30 x 0.3 cm Photography - 14.6 x 11.8 x 0.1 inch
$2,000
Aventure d'une libertine IX. From The Secret Album Series
Uwe Ommer
Photography - 37 x 30 x 0.3 cm Photography - 14.6 x 11.8 x 0.1 inch
$2,000
The News, Paris 1991
Uwe Ommer
Photography - 44 x 32 x 0.1 cm Photography - 17.3 x 12.6 x 0 inch
$1,900
Climbing I, Paris
Uwe Ommer
Photography - 37 x 30 x 0.3 cm Photography - 14.6 x 11.8 x 0.1 inch
$1,900
Telle qu'en elle-même - série corps de femme
Chantal Molinié Jonquet
Sculpture - 35 x 35 x 30 cm Sculpture - 13.8 x 13.8 x 11.8 inch
$5,812
Aventure d'une libertine I. From The Secret Album Series
Uwe Ommer
Photography - 37 x 30 x 0.3 cm Photography - 14.6 x 11.8 x 0.1 inch
$2,000
Icaro III
Amancio Gonzalez
Sculpture - 45 x 34.6 x 48.5 cm Sculpture - 17.7 x 13.6 x 19.1 inch
$5,245
El salto II
Amancio Gonzalez
Sculpture - 43 x 15 x 57.5 cm Sculpture - 16.9 x 5.9 x 22.6 inch
$5,365
Jeune victoire série corps de femme
Chantal Molinié Jonquet
Sculpture - 36 x 16 x 26 cm Sculpture - 14.2 x 6.3 x 10.2 inch
$4,053
Conflit intérieur - Corps en mouvement
Pauline Baste Morand
Sculpture - 12 x 29 x 10 cm Sculpture - 4.7 x 11.4 x 3.9 inch
$3,934
Red pink water
Cristina Fontsare
Photography - 30 x 40 x 0.1 cm Photography - 11.8 x 15.7 x 0 inch
$715
Mademoiselle
Martine Lingelser-Schmidt
Sculpture - 36 x 23 x 7 cm Sculpture - 14.2 x 9.1 x 2.8 inch
$1,431
Danseurs
Martine Lingelser-Schmidt
Sculpture - 28 x 14 x 12 cm Sculpture - 11 x 5.5 x 4.7 inch
$1,192
Red Lisa #13
Laurent Anastay-Ponsolle
Painting - 46 x 38 x 0.1 cm Painting - 18.1 x 15 x 0 inch
$775
XVI From The Red Series
Megha Joshi
Painting - 29.7 x 21.1 x 0.3 cm Painting - 11.7 x 8.3 x 0.1 inch
$1,200
