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, Adriann, Hugues Candaës

Hugues Candaës

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

£1,116

Print, Wisdom, Saba Shengelia

Saba Shengelia

Print . 45.16 x 33.87 x 0.2 cm Print . 17.8 x 13.3 x 0.1 inch

£443

Fine Art Drawings, Je bois la vie, Maï

Maï

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

£354

Painting, The beard, Pascal Marlin

Pascal Marlin

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

£399

Painting, Blue velvet, Nef

Nef

Painting . 30 x 30 x 0.3 cm Painting . 11.8 x 11.8 x 0.1 inch

£310

Painting, Pink Mist, Nef

Nef

Painting . 30 x 30 x 0.3 cm Painting . 11.8 x 11.8 x 0.1 inch

£310

Painting, Prune, Véronique Clanet

Véronique Clanet

Painting . 41 x 33 x 2 cm Painting . 16.1 x 13 x 0.8 inch

£1,293

Painting, Pearl, Hélène Matlis

Hélène Matlis

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

£310

Painting, Portrait #08, Koba

Koba

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

£230

Painting, Cappello Azzurro, Luigi Iona

Luigi Iona

Painting . 36 x 30 x 0.2 cm Painting . 14.2 x 11.8 x 0.1 inch

£173

Photography, Andy Warhol, Giorgio Lotti

Giorgio Lotti

Photography . 45 x 45 x 0.05 cm Photography . 17.7 x 17.7 x 0 inch

£319

Painting, Un uomo solo, Luigi Iona

Luigi Iona

Painting . 50 x 35 x 0.1 cm Painting . 19.7 x 13.8 x 0 inch

£133

Print, Figures, Franco Gentilini

Franco Gentilini

Print . 31.5 x 24.5 x 0.1 cm Print . 12.4 x 9.6 x 0 inch

£266

Painting, War U2 Bono, Spaco

Spaco

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

£177

Painting, Mylene Farmer, Spaco

Spaco

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

£186

Photography, King Mysterious, Rodrigo

Rodrigo

Photography . 44.5 x 33.3 x 0.1 cm Photography . 17.5 x 13.1 x 0 inch

£1,416

Painting, Shhhhhhhh, Akio Harada

Akio Harada

Painting . 30.5 x 30.5 x 3.8 cm Painting . 12 x 12 x 1.5 inch

£1,063

Photography, Cuba - Havana, Eve Arnold

Eve Arnold

Photography . 30.5 x 25.4 x 0.3 cm Photography . 12 x 10 x 0.1 inch

£1,217

Photography, Drezniak, Michael Grecco

Michael Grecco

Photography . 40.6 x 50.8 x 5.1 cm Photography . 16 x 20 x 2 inch

£2,434

Fine Art Drawings, Fire Genny, Erte Tirtoff

Erte Tirtoff

Fine Art Drawings . 35 x 25 x 1 cm Fine Art Drawings . 13.8 x 9.8 x 0.4 inch

£4,871

Fine Art Drawings, Nicholose, Erte Tirtoff

Erte Tirtoff

Fine Art Drawings . 39 x 28 x 1 cm Fine Art Drawings . 15.4 x 11 x 0.4 inch

£4,428

Painting, Maria Callas, Spaco

Spaco

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

£159

Sculpture, Lord Daniel, Anne Millot

Anne Millot

Sculpture . 29 x 24 x 11 cm Sculpture . 11.4 x 9.4 x 4.3 inch

£1,328

Painting, Bowie Aladin, Spaco

Spaco

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

£177

Painting, Juliette, Isabelle Hirtzig

Isabelle Hirtzig

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

£146

Sculpture, Circle, Lieven D'Haese

Lieven D'Haese

Sculpture . 49 x 46 x 26 cm Sculpture . 19.3 x 18.1 x 10.2 inch

£11,070

Painting, Frida Kahlo, Spaco

Spaco

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

£177

Painting, Warhol boxe, Spaco

Spaco

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

£177

Painting, Jane Birkin knack, Spaco

Spaco

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

£177