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…
Save your search and find it in your favorites
Save your search to find it quickly
Saved search
Your search is accessible from the favorites tab > My favorite searches
Unsaved search
A problem occurred
Permeable Existence No.9
Mike Sasaki
Sculpture - 19 x 27.5 x 7.5 cm Sculpture - 7.5 x 10.8 x 3 inch
$2,116
In the park of Barcelona
Neonilla Medvedeva
Painting - 33 x 38 x 3 cm Painting - 13 x 15 x 1.2 inch
$894
Clin d’œil, rêve d’un monde…
Marie-Odile Wagner
Print - 31 x 25 x 0.1 cm Print - 12.2 x 9.8 x 0 inch
$310
Bear CD Tribute, Blue Collar
Naor
Sculpture - 30 x 20 x 9 cm Sculpture - 11.8 x 7.9 x 3.5 inch
$1,371
Sies Marjan
Manuel Santelices
Fine Art Drawings - 35.6 x 27.9 x 0.3 cm Fine Art Drawings - 14 x 11 x 0.1 inch
$800
Le Cavalier (petit)(bronze)
Antoniucci Volti
Sculpture - 47 x 43 x 14 cm Sculpture - 18.5 x 16.9 x 5.5 inch
$13,709
Open Window with Butterflies
David Gerstein
Sculpture - 49 x 39 x 5 cm Sculpture - 19.3 x 15.4 x 2 inch
$2,980
Le Bouquet d'Amour
Nina Khemchyan
Sculpture - 49 x 49 x 49 cm Sculpture - 19.3 x 19.3 x 19.3 inch
$12,517
Desire of Secret Needs
Cobelentsz
Sculpture - 50 x 45 x 45 cm Sculpture - 19.7 x 17.7 x 17.7 inch
$26,227
The Green Wave
Kitikong Tilokwattanotai
Painting - 33 x 28 x 3 cm Painting - 13 x 11 x 1.2 inch
$1,907
Ménine Air et Bois 41
Miguel Guía
Sculpture - 41 x 39.5 x 22 cm Sculpture - 16.1 x 15.6 x 8.7 inch
$3,815
France voies navigables
Clara Castagné
Fine Art Drawings - 45 x 35 x 2 cm Fine Art Drawings - 17.7 x 13.8 x 0.8 inch
$954
Hymne d'enfants
Akira Inumaru
Fine Art Drawings - 30 x 20 cm Fine Art Drawings - 11.8 x 7.9 inch
$834
Discurso indiferente
Teo Franco
Fine Art Drawings - 42 x 29.7 x 0.1 cm Fine Art Drawings - 16.5 x 11.7 x 0 inch
$656
Ceci n'est pas un vase Or
Reda Amalou
Sculpture - 45 x 12 x 12 cm Sculpture - 17.7 x 4.7 x 4.7 inch
$4,172
Serigraphie I (rehaussée à la main/hand-embellished)
Piotre
Print - 50 x 50 x 0.1 cm Print - 19.7 x 19.7 x 0 inch
$954
A la recherche de Van Gogh
Alexander Daniloff
Painting - 35 x 50 x 0.3 cm Painting - 13.8 x 19.7 x 0.1 inch
$620 $527
Untitled. Unique embroidery artwork from the Durero series
Ana Seggiaro
Painting - 34.8 x 30 x 0.3 cm Painting - 13.7 x 11.8 x 0.1 inch
$750
Le sentier côtier
Frédéric Cadiou
Painting - 50 x 50 x 2 cm Painting - 19.7 x 19.7 x 0.8 inch
$2,027
2022/12-1- GA55
Guillaume Allemand
Sculpture - 50 x 50 x 3 cm Sculpture - 19.7 x 19.7 x 1.2 inch
$1,788
The girl with the lost pearl earring
Nef
Painting - 45 x 33 x 0.1 cm Painting - 17.7 x 13 x 0 inch
$1,669
Secrets of the night
Karl-Karol Chrobok
Painting - 48 x 34 x 0.1 cm Painting - 18.9 x 13.4 x 0 inch
$715
Abstract jazz (DV15)
David Vaamonde
Sculpture - 38 x 10 x 10 cm Sculpture - 15 x 3.9 x 3.9 inch
$954
Serpentant "hélicoïde rouge"
Yannick Bouillault
Sculpture - 46 x 13 x 11 cm Sculpture - 18.1 x 5.1 x 4.3 inch
$799