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, Rosia, Valérie Lamarre

Valérie Lamarre

Painting . 40 x 40 x 4.5 cm Painting . 15.7 x 15.7 x 1.8 inch

€640

Painting, One Step Away, Helen Spoon

Helen Spoon

Painting . 35 x 19.5 x 0.5 cm Painting . 13.8 x 7.7 x 0.2 inch

€413

Painting, RE 20, Mark Hellbusch

Mark Hellbusch

Painting . 50 x 50 x 1 cm Painting . 19.7 x 19.7 x 0.4 inch

€690

Painting, Cusi, Coha

Coha

Painting . 30 x 30 x 4 cm Painting . 11.8 x 11.8 x 1.6 inch

€580

Painting, London Walk, Aurelie Cholley

Aurelie Cholley

Painting . 30 x 40 x 3.5 cm Painting . 11.8 x 15.7 x 1.4 inch

€780

Painting, Pont, Manuela Ferreira

Manuela Ferreira

Painting . 40 x 50 x 2.5 cm Painting . 15.7 x 19.7 x 1 inch

€280

Sculpture, Fragmento rojo, Fabio Santori

Fabio Santori

Sculpture . 38 x 50 x 35 cm Sculpture . 15 x 19.7 x 13.8 inch

€2,700

Painting, 70, Miyako Shimizu

70

Miyako Shimizu

Painting . 40.9 x 31.3 x 3 cm Painting . 16.1 x 12.3 x 1.2 inch

€5,110

Painting, Coiling Koi, Lauren Acton

Lauren Acton

Painting . 40.6 x 50.8 x 2.5 cm Painting . 16 x 20 x 1 inch

€757

Painting, Last rays, Boris Serdyuk

Boris Serdyuk

Painting . 39 x 49 x 2 cm Painting . 15.4 x 19.3 x 0.8 inch

€205

Print, Death03988, Death NYC

Death NYC

Print . 45 x 32 x 0.1 cm Print . 17.7 x 12.6 x 0 inch

€199

Painting, Infanta, Alexander Daniloff

Alexander Daniloff

Painting . 35 x 10 x 0.3 cm Painting . 13.8 x 3.9 x 0.1 inch

€235

Painting, Haircuts, Michael Grine

Michael Grine

Painting . 35.6 x 27.9 x 0 cm Painting . 14 x 11 x 0.01 inch

€275

Painting, Sans titre, Mechtilt

Mechtilt

Painting . 45 x 27.5 cm Painting . 17.7 x 10.8 inch

€3,200

Photography, Sunflower (S), Tyler Shields

Tyler Shields

Photography . 45.7 x 45.7 cm Photography . 18 x 18 inch

€2,294

Painting, A2609, Thierry Benzaid

Thierry Benzaid

Painting . 18 x 26 x 1 cm Painting . 7.1 x 10.2 x 0.4 inch

€163

Fine Art Drawings, Darbuka, Lucio Forte

Lucio Forte

Fine Art Drawings . 32 x 32 x 0.1 cm Fine Art Drawings . 12.6 x 12.6 x 0 inch

€100

Painting, Two trees, Pol Ledent

Pol Ledent

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

€300

Painting, Birches in gold, Simon Kozhin

Simon Kozhin

Painting . 20 x 30 x 0.3 cm Painting . 7.9 x 11.8 x 0.1 inch

€2,700

Painting, Breath of Time, Sergio Aranda

Sergio Aranda

Painting . 49.8 x 49.8 x 1.5 cm Painting . 19.6 x 19.6 x 0.6 inch

€598

Painting, Stimulus 5, Gina Vor

Gina Vor

Painting . 45 x 45 x 2 cm Painting . 17.7 x 17.7 x 0.8 inch

€400

Painting, Sleepy Village, Lana Devidze

Lana Devidze

Painting . 23.5 x 30 x 1.6 cm Painting . 9.3 x 11.8 x 0.6 inch

€700

Painting, Sunset 69, Hilary Winfield

Hilary Winfield

Painting . 50.8 x 50.8 x 3.8 cm Painting . 20 x 20 x 1.5 inch

€317

Painting, Saltwater 4, Hilary Winfield

Hilary Winfield

Painting . 50.8 x 50.8 x 3.8 cm Painting . 20 x 20 x 1.5 inch

€362

Sculpture, Bidon street, AC 5

AC 5

Sculpture . 46 x 33 x 13.5 cm Sculpture . 18.1 x 13 x 5.3 inch

€380

Painting, A return, Mikolaj Malesza

Mikolaj Malesza

Painting . 50 x 35 cm Painting . 19.7 x 13.8 inch

€500

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