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, Joy-IV, Svetlana Martin

Svetlana Martin

Painting . 40 x 30 x 2 cm Painting . 15.7 x 11.8 x 0.8 inch

€390

Fine Art Drawings, Physics, Gina Vor

Gina Vor

Fine Art Drawings . 28.5 x 20.5 x 0.3 cm Fine Art Drawings . 11.2 x 8.1 x 0.1 inch

€100

Fine Art Drawings, Line 6, Gina Vor

Gina Vor

Fine Art Drawings . 29.5 x 19.5 x 0.3 cm Fine Art Drawings . 11.6 x 7.7 x 0.1 inch

€100

Painting, Awakening, Svetlana Martin

Svetlana Martin

Painting . 50 x 40 x 0.5 cm Painting . 19.7 x 15.7 x 0.2 inch

€430

Photography, Egg Study 11, Shine Huang

Shine Huang

Photography . 50.8 x 40.6 x 0.3 cm Photography . 20 x 16 x 0.1 inch

€2,200

Photography, Rebirth I, Shine Huang

Shine Huang

Photography . 50.8 x 40.6 x 0.3 cm Photography . 20 x 16 x 0.1 inch

€1,650

Painting, SERENITY-V, Svetlana Martin

Svetlana Martin

Painting . 40 x 30 x 2 cm Painting . 15.7 x 11.8 x 0.8 inch

€390

Print, Cuscini, Tino Stefanoni

Tino Stefanoni

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

€300

Fine Art Drawings, Zen-3168, Ludoroy

Ludoroy

Fine Art Drawings . 42 x 29.7 x 0.1 cm Fine Art Drawings . 16.5 x 11.7 x 0 inch

€650

Painting, 26, Victoria Shani

26

Victoria Shani

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

€1,500

Fine Art Drawings, Zen-3169, Ludoroy

Ludoroy

Fine Art Drawings . 40 x 30 x 0.1 cm Fine Art Drawings . 15.7 x 11.8 x 0 inch

€650

Painting, Fragments, Françoise Danel

Françoise Danel

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

€450

Painting, Hot Town, Karin Goeppert

Karin Goeppert

Painting . 39.9 x 39.9 x 2.5 cm Painting . 15.7 x 15.7 x 1 inch

€165

Painting, Demure Thoughts, Ms. T. S.

Ms. T. S.

Painting . 40 x 30 x 2 cm Painting . 15.7 x 11.8 x 0.8 inch

€145

Painting, Red, Laura Spring

Red

Laura Spring

Painting . 25.4 x 50.8 x 0.3 cm Painting . 10 x 20 x 0.1 inch

€266

Painting, Fields, Laura Spring

Laura Spring

Painting . 27.9 x 35.6 x 0.3 cm Painting . 11 x 14 x 0.1 inch

€229

Painting, Llaves, Ana Reynolds

Ana Reynolds

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

€400

Photography, untitled, Vanessa Henn

Vanessa Henn

Photography . 30 x 21 x 0.1 cm Photography . 11.8 x 8.3 x 0 inch

€600

Sculpture, Mineral, Ferran Cartes Yerro

Ferran Cartes Yerro

Sculpture . 27 x 27 x 6 cm Sculpture . 10.6 x 10.6 x 2.4 inch

€350

Design, Coi Travertine, Un'common

Un'common

Design . 42 x 32 x 32 cm Design . 16.5 x 12.6 x 12.6 inch

€1,300

Photography, Backstage II, Shengqi Tang

Shengqi Tang

Photography . 30 x 45 x 1 cm Photography . 11.8 x 17.7 x 0.4 inch

€790

Photography, Microkini, Thierry Robert

Thierry Robert

Photography . 50 x 50 x 0.1 cm Photography . 19.7 x 19.7 x 0 inch

€450

Print, Chat noir, David Vanadia

David Vanadia

Print . 50 x 37 x 1 cm Print . 19.7 x 14.6 x 0.4 inch

€200

Fine Art Drawings, Practice, Rossella Mercedes

Rossella Mercedes

Fine Art Drawings . 29.7 x 21 x 0.3 cm Fine Art Drawings . 11.7 x 8.3 x 0.1 inch

€300

Painting, Force 2, Odette Muller

Odette Muller

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

€550

Painting, Force 1, Odette Muller

Odette Muller

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

€550

Photography, Jump, Fabrizio Alzati

Fabrizio Alzati

Photography . 20 x 27 cm Photography . 7.9 x 10.6 inch

€350

Painting, M-grey, Bridg'

Bridg'

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

€390

Painting, M-white, Bridg'

Bridg'

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

€390

Design, GRUFF OAK S, Un'common

Un'common

Design . 45 x 45 x 45 cm Design . 17.7 x 17.7 x 17.7 inch

€650

Painting, M-black, Bridg'

Bridg'

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

€390

Design, Coi Wood Raw oak, Un'common

Un'common

Design . 42 x 32 x 32 cm Design . 16.5 x 12.6 x 12.6 inch

€600

Photography, Arbres - 2049, Yann Gaillot

Yann Gaillot

Photography . 40 x 30 x 1 cm Photography . 15.7 x 11.8 x 0.4 inch

€380

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