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, Popeye, Maxime Frairot

Maxime Frairot

Painting . 29.7 x 21 x 0.1 cm Painting . 11.7 x 8.3 x 0 inch

€180

Painting, Little Angel, Eklektik

Eklektik

Painting . 29 x 29 x 3.5 cm Painting . 11.4 x 11.4 x 1.4 inch

€280

Painting, Sbc 197, Susan Cantrick

Susan Cantrick

Painting . 28 x 37 cm Painting . 11 x 14.6 inch

€604

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

€589

Painting, Enso 18, Christian Deplante

Christian Deplante

Painting . 32 x 24 x 0.1 cm Painting . 12.6 x 9.4 x 0 inch

€300

Painting, Blue Shemp, Dwayne Wolff

Dwayne Wolff

Painting . 30.5 x 30.5 x 2.5 cm Painting . 12 x 12 x 1 inch

€542

Painting, Erosion I, Yichao Sun

Yichao Sun

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

€800

Painting, Fondu II, Yichao Sun

Yichao Sun

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

€800

Painting, Fondu I, Yichao Sun

Yichao Sun

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

€800

Painting, Addiccions, Raül Mateo

Raül Mateo

Painting . 30 x 20 x 1 cm Painting . 11.8 x 7.9 x 0.4 inch

€448

Painting, Portrait 05, Barbara Kroll

Barbara Kroll

Painting . 39.4 x 29.5 x 0.3 cm Painting . 15.5 x 11.6 x 0.1 inch

€316

Painting, Audrey Hepburn, Aranka's Art

Aranka's Art

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

€375

Painting, Autumn rows, Andrew Kinmont

Andrew Kinmont

Painting . 50 x 50 x 3 cm Painting . 19.7 x 19.7 x 1.2 inch

€1,449

Painting, Red Shemp, Dwayne Wolff

Dwayne Wolff

Painting . 30.5 x 30.5 x 2.5 cm Painting . 12 x 12 x 1 inch

€542

Painting, Erosion II, Yichao Sun

Yichao Sun

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

€800

Painting, Les pépites, Karin Boinet

Karin Boinet

Painting . 26 x 18 x 0.1 cm Painting . 10.2 x 7.1 x 0 inch

€480

Painting, Pépite I, Karin Boinet

Karin Boinet

Painting . 18 x 26 x 0.1 cm Painting . 7.1 x 10.2 x 0 inch

€480

Painting, Above the Sun, Helen Burkova

Helen Burkova

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

€361

Painting, Depth, Helen Burkova

Helen Burkova

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

€361

Painting, Sunset, Helen Burkova

Helen Burkova

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

€361

Painting, Phoenix, Helen Burkova

Helen Burkova

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

€361

Painting, Ghost gum mini XIV, Anna F

Anna F

Painting . 42 x 22 x 2 cm Painting . 16.5 x 8.7 x 0.8 inch

€471

Painting, Rebel, Eklektik

Eklektik

Painting . 29 x 29 x 3.5 cm Painting . 11.4 x 11.4 x 1.4 inch

€280

Painting, Enso 19, Christian Deplante

Christian Deplante

Painting . 41 x 30 x 0.1 cm Painting . 16.1 x 11.8 x 0 inch

€350

Painting, Divisions, Stefan Fierros

Stefan Fierros

Painting . 31 x 31 x 4.1 cm Painting . 12.2 x 12.2 x 1.6 inch

€295

Painting, Loneliness, Joanna BM

Joanna BM

Painting . 50 x 50 x 3.5 cm Painting . 19.7 x 19.7 x 1.4 inch

€2,650

Painting, Shoot the bank 2013, JP Malot

JP Malot

Painting . 43 x 36 x 4 cm Painting . 16.9 x 14.2 x 1.6 inch

€2,900

Painting, Mick Jagger, Aranka's Art

Aranka's Art

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

€375

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