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, Famille, Roberto Gherardi

Roberto Gherardi

Painting . 36 x 50 x 1 cm Painting . 14.2 x 19.7 x 0.4 inch

£765

Painting, lopera, G.Marin

G.Marin

Painting . 30 x 40 x 3 cm Painting . 11.8 x 15.7 x 1.2 inch

£726

Photography, Pola Molitor, Gil Rigoulet

Gil Rigoulet

Photography . 50 x 50 x 0.02 cm Photography . 19.7 x 19.7 x 0 inch

£1,948

Painting, Barcelone, August Von Siegen

August Von Siegen

Painting . 18.8 x 28.8 x 2 cm Painting . 7.4 x 11.3 x 0.8 inch

£887

Sculpture, Uh Oh, Nicasio Fernandez

Nicasio Fernandez

Sculpture . 30.5 x 18 x 18.2 cm Sculpture . 12 x 7.1 x 7.2 inch

£2,028

Photography, Pesadumbre, Martí Sala

Martí Sala

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

£797

Painting, A la plage, Azziel

Azziel

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

£66

Print, Enfance, Maude Ovize

Maude Ovize

Print . 49 x 48 x 0.1 cm Print . 19.3 x 18.9 x 0 inch

£266

Painting, Les souvenirs, Lourdes Ral

Lourdes Ral

Painting . 40 x 27 x 2 cm Painting . 15.7 x 10.6 x 0.8 inch

£248

Fine Art Drawings, Daydream, Nino Eliashvili

Nino Eliashvili

Fine Art Drawings . 41.5 x 29.5 x 0.1 cm Fine Art Drawings . 16.3 x 11.6 x 0 inch

£709

Photography, Jeux d'eau, Gabriel Baxas

Gabriel Baxas

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

£832

Photography, BrotherS (S), Streety

Streety

Photography . 40 x 30 x 0.1 cm Photography . 15.7 x 11.8 x 0 inch

£221

Sculpture, Amazonas, Javier de la Rosa

Javier de la Rosa

Sculpture . 29 x 20 x 124 cm Sculpture . 11.4 x 7.9 x 48.8 inch

£5,376

Painting, Il sofa rosso, Aleardo Villa

Aleardo Villa

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

£1,594

Painting, Jackie, Ivan Afronskiy

Ivan Afronskiy

Painting . 24 x 30 x 1 cm Painting . 9.4 x 11.8 x 0.4 inch

£1,142

Fine Art Drawings, 9 to 5, Gabrielle Rul

Gabrielle Rul

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

£354

Photography, Surreal Cemetery, Ken Heyman

Ken Heyman

Photography . 27.9 x 35.6 x 1.3 cm Photography . 11 x 14 x 0.5 inch

£3,894

Print, L'éveil, Julian Semiao

Julian Semiao

Print . 50 x 41.89 x 0.1 cm Print . 19.7 x 16.5 x 0 inch

£133

Painting, Platja, Martínez Lozano

Martínez Lozano

Painting . 38 x 45 x 3 cm Painting . 15 x 17.7 x 1.2 inch

£2,834

Painting, Family Photo, Ilya Gefter

Ilya Gefter

Painting . 36 x 43 x 2 cm Painting . 14.2 x 16.9 x 0.8 inch

£2,272

Painting, Perrache, Nicolas Curmer

Nicolas Curmer

Painting . 30 x 41 x 5 cm Painting . 11.8 x 16.1 x 2 inch

£709

Photography, AD120009, Jan Nomis

Jan Nomis

Photography . 38 x 48 x 1 cm Photography . 15 x 18.9 x 0.4 inch

£248

Painting, Pause Cafe, Edgard Mazigi

Edgard Mazigi

Painting . 30 x 30 cm Painting . 11.8 x 11.8 inch

£1,018

Painting, Sitges, Ignasi Mundo

Ignasi Mundo

Painting . 45 x 33 x 0.3 cm Painting . 17.7 x 13 x 0.1 inch

£531

Painting, September, Alexander Levich

Alexander Levich

Painting . 50 x 45 x 2 cm Painting . 19.7 x 17.7 x 0.8 inch

£868

Print, Ferber, Albin De La Simone

Albin De La Simone

Print . 40 x 25 x 0.1 cm Print . 15.7 x 9.8 x 0 inch

£177

Painting, La piste, Marie Deforche

Marie Deforche

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

£345