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, Ad Oram, Alex Claude

Ad Oram

Alex Claude

Painting - 40 x 40 x 1.8 cm Painting - 15.7 x 15.7 x 0.7 inch

€400

Painting, My Forest, Sophie André

My Forest

Sophie André

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

€380

Painting, Collage, Lika Kakhidze

Collage

Lika Kakhidze

Painting - 36 x 30 x 0.01 cm Painting - 14.2 x 11.8 x 0 inch

€250

Photography, Sans Titre, Philip Bernard

Sans Titre

Philip Bernard

Photography - 28 x 27.5 x 0.1 cm Photography - 11 x 10.8 x 0 inch

€540

Fine Art Drawings, Le petit col, Frank Girard

Le petit col

Frank Girard

Fine Art Drawings - 43.5 x 28.5 x 0.1 cm Fine Art Drawings - 17.1 x 11.2 x 0 inch

€940

Photography, Hammok, Fabrizio Alzati

Hammok

Fabrizio Alzati

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

€350

Print, Pure Heart, San Zi

Pure Heart

San Zi

Print - 11 x 30 x 1 cm Print - 4.3 x 11.8 x 0.4 inch

Sold

Painting, Grove, Boris Serdyuk

Grove

Boris Serdyuk

Painting - 35 x 49.2 x 2 cm Painting - 13.8 x 19.4 x 0.8 inch

Sold

Painting, Bridge, Boris Serdyuk

Bridge

Boris Serdyuk

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

Sold

Painting, Landscape, Mitko Dimitrov

Landscape

Mitko Dimitrov

Painting - 39 x 40 x 2 cm Painting - 15.4 x 15.7 x 0.8 inch

Sold

Painting, For hay, Ivanyuk Oleksiy

For hay

Ivanyuk Oleksiy

Painting - 20 x 30 x 2 cm Painting - 7.9 x 11.8 x 0.8 inch

Sold

Painting, Autumn day, Peter Tovpev

Autumn day

Peter Tovpev

Painting - 36 x 47 x 2 cm Painting - 14.2 x 18.5 x 0.8 inch

Sold

Fine Art Drawings, Sans titre, Samaneh Atef

Sans titre

Samaneh Atef

Fine Art Drawings - 49.5 x 34 cm Fine Art Drawings - 19.5 x 13.4 inch

Sold

Painting, Windy Coast, Peter Tovpev

Windy Coast

Peter Tovpev

Painting - 34 x 47 x 2 cm Painting - 13.4 x 18.5 x 0.8 inch

Sold

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