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…

Read more
Print, ID Forme 31, Luc Lapraye

ID Forme 31

Luc Lapraye

Print - 20 x 30 x 0.5 cm Print - 7.9 x 11.8 x 0.2 inch

$89

Print, Ampersand, Art Grafts

Ampersand

Art Grafts

Print - 50.8 x 50.8 cm Print - 20 x 20 inch

$2,202

Painting, Utopia B, Aude Herlédan

Utopia B

Aude Herlédan

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

$7,143

Sculpture, Zukroy, Rémy Demestre

Zukroy

Rémy Demestre

Sculpture - 36 x 32 x 11 cm Sculpture - 14.2 x 12.6 x 4.3 inch

$417

Painting, La Mer, Arnaud Dromigny

La Mer

Arnaud Dromigny

Painting - 29.7 x 42 x 2 cm Painting - 11.7 x 16.5 x 0.8 inch

$452

Sculpture, Large pool, Ramon Enrich

Large pool

Ramon Enrich

Sculpture - 11 x 49 x 15 cm Sculpture - 4.3 x 19.3 x 5.9 inch

$3,572

Painting, Gem I, Elena Disabato

Gem I

Elena Disabato

Painting - 35.6 x 27.9 x 2.5 cm Painting - 14 x 11 x 1 inch

$290

Painting, Rouages, Amélie Tilliole

Rouages

Amélie Tilliole

Painting - 40 x 40 x 1 cm Painting - 15.7 x 15.7 x 0.4 inch

$274

Painting, CB6P-24, Martin Singer

CB6P-24

Martin Singer

Painting - 44.8 x 31.6 x 3.1 cm Painting - 17.6 x 12.4 x 1.2 inch

$619

Sculpture, Cog (Teal), Patricia Volk

Cog (Teal)

Patricia Volk

Sculpture - 40 x 50 x 50 cm Sculpture - 15.7 x 19.7 x 19.7 inch

$6,429

Sculpture, Urban, Rémy Demestre

Urban

Rémy Demestre

Sculpture - 35 x 27 x 12 cm Sculpture - 13.8 x 10.6 x 4.7 inch

$429

Painting, Skate, Stéphane Cantin

Skate

Stéphane Cantin

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

$357

Fine Art Drawings, Géométrie, Damien Berrard

Géométrie

Damien Berrard

Fine Art Drawings - 30 x 40 x 1.5 cm Fine Art Drawings - 11.8 x 15.7 x 0.6 inch

$119

Fine Art Drawings, Géométrie II, Damien Berrard

Géométrie II

Damien Berrard

Fine Art Drawings - 30 x 40 x 1.5 cm Fine Art Drawings - 11.8 x 15.7 x 0.6 inch

$119

Painting, Heart n°4, Marie KVK

Heart n°4

Marie KVK

Painting - 40 x 40 x 3 cm Painting - 15.7 x 15.7 x 1.2 inch

$536

Sculpture, Loge P4, Aperato

Loge P4

Aperato

Sculpture - 36 x 32 x 30 cm Sculpture - 14.2 x 12.6 x 11.8 inch

$2,262

Fine Art Drawings, Isidore 24.01, Arthur Hent

Isidore 24.01

Arthur Hent

Fine Art Drawings - 30 x 21 x 0.2 cm Fine Art Drawings - 11.8 x 8.3 x 0.1 inch

$333

Fine Art Drawings, Tour 24.05, Arthur Hent

Tour 24.05

Arthur Hent

Fine Art Drawings - 30 x 21 x 0.2 cm Fine Art Drawings - 11.8 x 8.3 x 0.1 inch

$179

Painting, Faded, Dyala Khodary

Faded

Dyala Khodary

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

$900

Painting, Message, Dyala Khodary

Message

Dyala Khodary

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

$1,000

Painting, Messenger, Dyala Khodary

Messenger

Dyala Khodary

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

$1,200

Painting, Enclosed, Dyala Khodary

Enclosed

Dyala Khodary

Painting - 40 x 40 x 3 cm Painting - 15.7 x 15.7 x 1.2 inch

$1,000

Fine Art Drawings, Articulation 22.03, Arthur Hent

Articulation 22.03

Arthur Hent

Fine Art Drawings - 42 x 29.7 x 0.2 cm Fine Art Drawings - 16.5 x 11.7 x 0.1 inch

$333

Sculpture, Cercle - ocre, Yann Crenn

Cercle - ocre

Yann Crenn

Sculpture - 40 x 40 x 10 cm Sculpture - 15.7 x 15.7 x 3.9 inch

$3,810

Sculpture, White Now, Simone De Rosa

White Now

Simone De Rosa

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

$226

Painting, Jamaica, Mark David Smith

Jamaica

Mark David Smith

Painting - 41.9 x 39.4 x 0.3 cm Painting - 16.5 x 15.5 x 0.1 inch

$390

Painting, The pool I, Ziva Schiva

The pool I

Ziva Schiva

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

$3,393

Sculpture, CTEM-25, Martin Singer

CTEM-25

Martin Singer

Sculpture - 38.8 x 33.3 x 2.3 cm Sculpture - 15.3 x 13.1 x 0.9 inch

$595

Sculpture, 7CP2P-25, Martin Singer

7CP2P-25

Martin Singer

Sculpture - 38 x 41.2 x 3.2 cm Sculpture - 15 x 16.2 x 1.3 inch

$691

Painting, Cosmos 2, Amelia Wood

Cosmos 2

Amelia Wood

Painting - 30 x 30 x 3 cm Painting - 11.8 x 11.8 x 1.2 inch

$708

Painting, Cosmos 3, Amelia Wood

Cosmos 3

Amelia Wood

Painting - 30 x 30 x 3 cm Painting - 11.8 x 11.8 x 1.2 inch

$708

Painting, Tidal moon 1, Amelia Wood

Tidal moon 1

Amelia Wood

Painting - 30 x 30 x 3 cm Painting - 11.8 x 11.8 x 1.2 inch

$827

Painting, Cosmos 1, Amelia Wood

Cosmos 1

Amelia Wood

Painting - 30 x 30 x 3 cm Painting - 11.8 x 11.8 x 1.2 inch

$708

Painting, Tidal moon 3, Amelia Wood

Tidal moon 3

Amelia Wood

Painting - 30 x 30 x 3 cm Painting - 11.8 x 11.8 x 1.2 inch

$827

Painting, Sushi, Amelia Wood

Sushi

Amelia Wood

Painting - 40 x 50 x 3 cm Painting - 15.7 x 19.7 x 1.2 inch

$762

Painting, Home, Amelia Wood

Home

Amelia Wood

Painting - 50 x 40 x 3 cm Painting - 19.7 x 15.7 x 1.2 inch

$762

Painting, No Title, Dean Tavoularis

No Title

Dean Tavoularis

Painting - 46 x 38 x 3 cm Painting - 18.1 x 15 x 1.2 inch

$5,953

Painting, Sin título, Miquel Ponce

Sin título

Miquel Ponce

Painting - 27 x 41 x 5 cm Painting - 10.6 x 16.1 x 2 inch

$536

19/29