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, Alcyone, L'Atlas

L'Atlas

Print . 50 x 50 cm Print . 19.7 x 19.7 inch

£257

Sculpture, Moving, Mark Brusse

Mark Brusse

Sculpture . 43 x 38 x 17 cm Sculpture . 16.9 x 15 x 6.7 inch

£10,628

Sculpture, Love  Notes, Irakli Tsuladze

Irakli Tsuladze

Sculpture . 43 x 27 x 14 cm Sculpture . 16.9 x 10.6 x 5.5 inch

£2,303

Sculpture, De Bosnymph, Dirk De Keyzer

Dirk De Keyzer

Sculpture . 43 x 23 x 23 cm Sculpture . 16.9 x 9.1 x 9.1 inch

£8,635

Photography, I am awake, Shulan Wang

Shulan Wang

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

£1,328

Photography, Nail artist, J.Léo

J.Léo

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

£1,328

Sculpture, Love Forever, Wenqin Chen

Wenqin Chen

Sculpture . 25 x 30 x 20 cm Sculpture . 9.8 x 11.8 x 7.9 inch

£8,502

Sculpture, Pintade, Armand Petersen

Armand Petersen

Sculpture . 30.7 x 24.5 x 15.1 cm Sculpture . 12.1 x 9.6 x 5.9 inch

£12,399

Sculpture, Prince, Les Hélènes

Les Hélènes

Sculpture . 26 x 8 x 8 cm Sculpture . 10.2 x 3.1 x 3.1 inch

£602

Sculpture, New perché, Sophie Verger

Sophie Verger

Sculpture . 27 x 5.5 x 8.8 cm Sculpture . 10.6 x 2.2 x 3.5 inch

£1,860

Sculpture, Ours en assemblage, Chesade

Chesade

Sculpture . 18 x 40 x 23 cm Sculpture . 7.1 x 15.7 x 9.1 inch

£2,745

Print, Art, Pieter Ceizer

Art

Pieter Ceizer

Print . 30 x 30 cm Print . 11.8 x 11.8 inch

£128

Photography, Un bout de mer, Sarah Dutel

Sarah Dutel

Photography . 50 x 50 x 0.3 cm Photography . 19.7 x 19.7 x 0.1 inch

£142

Sculpture, Bougeoirs, Nicola Lazzari

Nicola Lazzari

Sculpture . 39 x 12 x 12 cm Sculpture . 15.4 x 4.7 x 4.7 inch

£6,199

Photography, Royal city, Bze Bzeland

Bze Bzeland

Photography . 32.9 x 48.3 x 0.1 cm Photography . 13 x 19 x 0 inch

£221

Print, Befuddled Mind, Alex Carr

Alex Carr

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

£44

Sculpture, Le Teckel, Lolek

Lolek

Sculpture . 22 x 34 x 17 cm Sculpture . 8.7 x 13.4 x 6.7 inch

£3,897

Sculpture, Grand Cha'roule, Lolek

Lolek

Sculpture . 38.5 x 44.5 x 11 cm Sculpture . 15.2 x 17.5 x 4.3 inch

£4,960

Photography, Walden 7, Serie V, Arantza NT

Arantza NT

Photography . 45 x 30 x 0.1 cm Photography . 17.7 x 11.8 x 0 inch

£177

Sculpture, Two legs, Lieven D'Haese

Lieven D'Haese

Sculpture . 46 x 33 x 14 cm Sculpture . 18.1 x 13 x 5.5 inch

£3,365

Sculpture, Padre, Lisbeth Delisle

Lisbeth Delisle

Sculpture . 31 x 11.5 x 10 cm Sculpture . 12.2 x 4.5 x 3.9 inch

£2,834

Sculpture, Jubilation, Nnamdi Okonkwo

Nnamdi Okonkwo

Sculpture . 17.8 x 30.5 x 45.7 cm Sculpture . 7 x 12 x 18 inch

£6,895

Sculpture, Pourquoi pas ?, Sophie Hustin

Sophie Hustin

Sculpture . 37 x 31 x 10 cm Sculpture . 14.6 x 12.2 x 3.9 inch

£3,188

Photography, Fureur de vivre, Bze Bzeland

Bze Bzeland

Photography . 32.9 x 48.3 x 0.1 cm Photography . 13 x 19 x 0 inch

£159

Sculpture, Grand Cha'Kra, Lolek

Lolek

Sculpture . 30.5 x 25 x 26 cm Sculpture . 12 x 9.8 x 10.2 inch

£4,605

Photography, Karaoke, Camille Levert

Camille Levert

Photography . 50 x 50 x 7 cm Photography . 19.7 x 19.7 x 2.8 inch

£4,871

Print, Pom Pom, Philippe Geluck

Philippe Geluck

Print . 35 x 35 x 0.01 cm Print . 13.8 x 13.8 x 0 inch

£106

Photography, Elsewhere, Brooke Shaden

Brooke Shaden

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

£2,126