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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Print, Free Rothko, Oak Oak

Oak Oak

Print - 50 x 40 x 0.1 cm Print - 19.7 x 15.7 x 0 inch

€190

Painting, On the cloud, Jia Yuan Hua

Jia Yuan Hua

Painting - 30 x 24 x 4 cm Painting - 11.8 x 9.4 x 1.6 inch

€1,600

Sculpture, Ohne Titel, Gerd Kanz

Gerd Kanz

Sculpture - 30 x 30 x 4 cm Sculpture - 11.8 x 11.8 x 1.6 inch

€1,200

Photography, Freedom, Rodrigo

Rodrigo

Photography - 26.7 x 35.6 x 0.1 cm Photography - 10.5 x 14 x 0 inch

€1,999

Painting, Dazibao, Meleo

Meleo

Painting - 22 x 32 x 4 cm Painting - 8.7 x 12.6 x 1.6 inch

€1,200

Photography, Circus, Katerina Belkina

Katerina Belkina

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

€1,789

Painting, Untitled, Ferran Roca Bon

Ferran Roca Bon

Painting - 35 x 50 cm Painting - 13.8 x 19.7 inch

€900

Sculpture, Pas 02.23, Yves Tilly

Yves Tilly

Sculpture - 34 x 12 x 7 cm Sculpture - 13.4 x 4.7 x 2.8 inch

€980

Painting, Village, Manolo Ruiz Pipo

Manolo Ruiz Pipo

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

€1,200

Photography, The broken arm, Nicola Vinci

Nicola Vinci

Photography - 40 x 30 x 0.2 cm Photography - 15.7 x 11.8 x 0.1 inch

€900

Sculpture, Ardent, Eva Richard

Eva Richard

Sculpture - 28 x 20 x 5 cm Sculpture - 11 x 7.9 x 2 inch

€400

Painting, Untitled, Mauro Bellucci

Mauro Bellucci

Painting - 50 x 50 x 0.1 cm Painting - 19.7 x 19.7 x 0 inch

€1,000

Design, Éden, Eric de Gésincourt

Eric de Gésincourt

Design - 23 x 45 x 26 cm Design - 9.1 x 17.7 x 10.2 inch

€2,200

Print, Soviet, Jibé

Jibé

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

€100

Painting, Cottages, Ružena Velesová

Ružena Velesová

Painting - 35 x 40 x 2 cm Painting - 13.8 x 15.7 x 0.8 inch

€515

Painting, Corn at Night, Levon Fljyan

Levon Fljyan

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

€1,190

Painting, Cafe in France, Lluis Ribas

Lluis Ribas

Painting - 24 x 35 x 2 cm Painting - 9.4 x 13.8 x 0.8 inch

€1,750

Painting, Pont Wilson, Paul Ward

Paul Ward

Painting - 40.6 x 30 x 5.1 cm Painting - 16 x 11.8 x 2 inch

€1,906

Painting, Ropas, Josefa Sanz del Amo

Josefa Sanz del Amo

Painting - 50 x 40 x 0.1 cm Painting - 19.7 x 15.7 x 0 inch

€1,800

Fine Art Drawings, Silent Drift, Nora Shade

Nora Shade

Fine Art Drawings - 30 x 30 x 0.1 cm Fine Art Drawings - 11.8 x 11.8 x 0 inch

€224

Painting, Les chats, Heidi Schmelzer

Heidi Schmelzer

Painting - 34 x 24 x 3 cm Painting - 13.4 x 9.4 x 1.2 inch

€725

Painting, Venise, Josselin Bodley

Josselin Bodley

Painting - 46 x 38 x 2 cm Painting - 18.1 x 15 x 0.8 inch

€1,140

Print, Warsaw 2, Adrianna MJW

Adrianna MJW

Print - 40 x 40 x 0.2 cm Print - 15.7 x 15.7 x 0.1 inch

€400

Sculpture, Bohême, K-OD

K-OD

Sculpture - 42 x 42 x 32 cm Sculpture - 16.5 x 16.5 x 12.6 inch

€850

Photography, Well Heeled, Arthur Steel

Arthur Steel

Photography - 33 x 41 x 0.01 cm Photography - 13 x 16.1 x 0 inch

€895

Painting, Village 28, Daozhou Huang

Daozhou Huang

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

€500

Fine Art Drawings, Provencale No.13, Pascal Plazanet

Pascal Plazanet

Fine Art Drawings - 29.5 x 42 x 0.1 cm Fine Art Drawings - 11.6 x 16.5 x 0 inch

€1,400

Painting, Capitol, Claire Halpin

Claire Halpin

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

€1,250