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, Burbuja segura, El Toni

Burbuja segura

El Toni

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

$596

Painting, Love (gun), Ralph Posset

Love (gun)

Ralph Posset

Painting - 20 x 45 x 2 cm Painting - 7.9 x 17.7 x 0.8 inch

$596

Print, Miranda 2, Lucio Forte

Miranda 2

Lucio Forte

Print - 29.7 x 42 x 0.1 cm Print - 11.7 x 16.5 x 0 inch

$143

Print, Red Riding Hood, Swoon

Red Riding Hood

Swoon

Print - 48.26 x 43.18 x 0.1 cm Print - 19 x 17 x 0 inch

$1,431 $1,287

Sculpture, Discobole, André Michel

Discobole

André Michel

Sculpture - 28 x 18 x 12 cm Sculpture - 11 x 7.1 x 4.7 inch

$763

Sculpture, Samurai, Milcheva Emilia

Samurai

Milcheva Emilia

Sculpture - 19 x 33 x 8 cm Sculpture - 7.5 x 13 x 3.1 inch

$417

Fine Art Drawings, London, Jo Little

London

Jo Little

Fine Art Drawings - 40 x 30 x 0.01 cm Fine Art Drawings - 15.7 x 11.8 x 0 inch

$954

Painting, QR Code, Joachim Romain

QR Code

Joachim Romain

Painting - 41 x 27 x 2 cm Painting - 16.1 x 10.6 x 0.8 inch

$1,013

Fine Art Drawings, Surrender, Notseig

Surrender

Notseig

Fine Art Drawings - 12.05 x 30 x 0.5 cm Fine Art Drawings - 4.7 x 11.8 x 0.2 inch

$894

Print, Coils 3B, Matt Neuman

Coils 3B

Matt Neuman

Print - 41 x 41 cm Print - 16.1 x 16.1 inch

$1,013

Painting, Guillermo, Tom Furey

Guillermo

Tom Furey

Painting - 50.8 x 40.6 x 1.3 cm Painting - 20 x 16 x 0.5 inch

$2,500

Painting, Bouquet, Taro Takikawa

Bouquet

Taro Takikawa

Painting - 35 x 20.5 x 2 cm Painting - 13.8 x 8.1 x 0.8 inch

$1,531

Sculpture, 48, Gérard Puvis

48

Gérard Puvis

Sculpture - 40.6 x 30.5 x 5.1 cm Sculpture - 16 x 12 x 2 inch

$600

Fine Art Drawings, Fleurs, Gen Paul

Fleurs

Gen Paul

Fine Art Drawings - 40.5 x 30 x 0.05 cm Fine Art Drawings - 15.9 x 11.8 x 0 inch

$1,788

Print, Bivalva, LN Le Cheviller

Bivalva

LN Le Cheviller

Print - 30 x 30 x 0.1 cm Print - 11.8 x 11.8 x 0 inch

$155

Painting, Doe, Ivo Bistrichki

Doe

Ivo Bistrichki

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

$1,001 $901

Sculpture, Cercle - rose, Yann Crenn

Cercle - rose

Yann Crenn

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

$3,815

Fine Art Drawings, Wahou, Maï

Wahou

Maï

Fine Art Drawings - 29.7 x 21 x 0.1 cm Fine Art Drawings - 11.7 x 8.3 x 0 inch

$417

Painting, Hope, Seffar Adil

Hope

Seffar Adil

Painting - 42 x 29.7 x 0.01 cm Painting - 16.5 x 11.7 x 0 inch

$1,220

Painting, Uma, Esther Barend

Uma

Esther Barend

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

$2,980

Sculpture, Angle 3, Eric Gouret

Angle 3

Eric Gouret

Sculpture - 50 x 50 x 4 cm Sculpture - 19.7 x 19.7 x 1.6 inch

$1,669

Painting, Abstract, Ellis Jacobson

Abstract

Ellis Jacobson

Painting - 31 x 42 x 0.3 cm Painting - 12.2 x 16.5 x 0.1 inch

$1,431

Painting, XXXVI 12, Yves Popet

XXXVI 12

Yves Popet

Painting - 38 x 38 x 1 cm Painting - 15 x 15 x 0.4 inch

$3,398

Painting, Anna's aroma, Eugenia Isen

Anna's aroma

Eugenia Isen

Painting - 50.8 x 40.6 x 0.3 cm Painting - 20 x 16 x 0.1 inch

$600

Fine Art Drawings, Two Figures, Henri Epstein

Two Figures

Henri Epstein

Fine Art Drawings - 23 x 31 x 0.1 cm Fine Art Drawings - 9.1 x 12.2 x 0 inch

$596

Painting, Women Walking, Omar Rayo

Women Walking

Omar Rayo

Painting - 34.3 x 50.8 cm Painting - 13.5 x 20 inch

$20,000

Painting, Sleepy, La Ba Quan

Sleepy

La Ba Quan

Painting - 50.8 x 50.8 x 2.5 cm Painting - 20 x 20 x 1 inch

$1,800

Print, Soviet, Jibé

Soviet

Jibé

Print - 40 x 30 cm Print - 15.7 x 11.8 inch

$119

Print, Mick, Gaby Joséphine

Mick

Gaby Joséphine

Print - 40 x 30 cm Print - 15.7 x 11.8 inch

$83

Fine Art Drawings, Big Horns, Gouzy

Big Horns

Gouzy

Fine Art Drawings - 39 x 29 x 1 cm Fine Art Drawings - 15.4 x 11.4 x 0.4 inch

$656

Painting, Seaflower, Lumona

Seaflower

Lumona

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

$2,265

Painting, Monochrom N92, Valerii

Monochrom N92

Valerii

Painting - 40 x 35 x 3 cm Painting - 15.7 x 13.8 x 1.2 inch

$2,039

Print, Torn, Andrew Scott

Torn

Andrew Scott

Print - 41 x 28.5 cm Print - 16.1 x 11.2 inch

$2,146

Fine Art Drawings, Personnages, Serge Pahnke

Personnages

Serge Pahnke

Fine Art Drawings - 28.5 x 39.5 x 0.3 cm Fine Art Drawings - 11.2 x 15.6 x 0.1 inch

$893

Fine Art Drawings, Convoy, Purvis Young

Convoy

Purvis Young

Fine Art Drawings - 35.6 x 27.9 x 0.3 cm Fine Art Drawings - 14 x 11 x 0.11 inch

$1,250

Sculpture, Deagan, Jean-Pierre Loubet

Deagan

Jean-Pierre Loubet

Sculpture - 30 x 18 x 13 cm Sculpture - 11.8 x 7.1 x 5.1 inch

$834

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