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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Fine Art Drawings, Girl with shoulder, Badriot

Badriot

Fine Art Drawings . 26 x 21 x 1 cm Fine Art Drawings . 10.2 x 8.3 x 0.4 inch

€900

Photography, Hand, Bridgeman

Bridgeman

Photography . 27 x 20 x 0.1 cm Photography . 10.6 x 7.9 x 0 inch

€240

Fine Art Drawings, The Fish III, Marianna Oklejak

Marianna Oklejak

Fine Art Drawings . 29.7 x 41.9 x 0.1 cm Fine Art Drawings . 11.7 x 16.5 x 0 inch

€370

Fine Art Drawings, Barb - 04, Barberousse

Barberousse

Fine Art Drawings . 24 x 32 x 0.2 cm Fine Art Drawings . 9.4 x 12.6 x 0.1 inch

€350

Painting, Ethnic 3, Pascal Marlin

Pascal Marlin

Painting . 30 x 28 x 0.2 cm Painting . 11.8 x 11 x 0.1 inch

€350

Painting, Ethnic 2, Pascal Marlin

Pascal Marlin

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

€350

Painting, Ethnic # 1, Pascal Marlin

Pascal Marlin

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

€350

Painting, Tulips, Pol Ledent

Pol Ledent

Painting . 41 x 31 x 0.1 cm Painting . 16.1 x 12.2 x 0 inch

€150

Painting, Blue forest, Pol Ledent

Pol Ledent

Painting . 31 x 41 x 0.1 cm Painting . 12.2 x 16.1 x 0 inch

€150

Painting, Enso 17, Christian Deplante

Christian Deplante

Painting . 32 x 24 x 0.1 cm Painting . 12.6 x 9.4 x 0 inch

€300

Photography, #10, Julien Espiaut

#10

Julien Espiaut

Photography . 29.7 x 21 x 0.1 cm Photography . 11.7 x 8.3 x 0 inch

€190

Painting, Argile, Anne Gabrielle Callf

Anne Gabrielle Callf

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

€480

Fine Art Drawings, The Fish II, Marianna Oklejak

Marianna Oklejak

Fine Art Drawings . 29.7 x 41.9 x 0.1 cm Fine Art Drawings . 11.7 x 16.5 x 0 inch

€370

Painting, Goldorak strass, Cha

Cha

Painting . 50 x 40 x 1 cm Painting . 19.7 x 15.7 x 0.4 inch

€400

Painting, A rural village, Pol Ledent

Pol Ledent

Painting . 31 x 41 x 0.1 cm Painting . 12.2 x 16.1 x 0 inch

€150

Painting, A forest path, Pol Ledent

Pol Ledent

Painting . 31 x 41 x 0.1 cm Painting . 12.2 x 16.1 x 0 inch

€150

Print, Now complete 6., Petr Strnad

Petr Strnad

Print . 40.4 x 26.8 x 0.1 cm Print . 15.9 x 10.6 x 0 inch

€310

Print, Now Complete 5, Petr Strnad

Petr Strnad

Print . 35.6 x 25.6 x 0.1 cm Print . 14 x 10.1 x 0 inch

€310

Print, Now complete 4., Petr Strnad

Petr Strnad

Print . 40.4 x 26.3 x 0.1 cm Print . 15.9 x 10.4 x 0 inch

€310

Print, Now Complete 3., Petr Strnad

Petr Strnad

Print . 39.5 x 26.5 x 0.1 cm Print . 15.6 x 10.4 x 0 inch

€310

Print, Now Complete 2, Petr Strnad

Petr Strnad

Print . 35.8 x 26.8 x 0.1 cm Print . 14.1 x 10.6 x 0 inch

€310

Painting, Tontons flingueurs, Spaco

Spaco

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

€170

Painting, Sil, Alessandra Bisi

Sil

Alessandra Bisi

Painting . 32 x 24 x 0.1 cm Painting . 12.6 x 9.4 x 0 inch

€170

Photography, #2, Julien Espiaut

#2

Julien Espiaut

Photography . 29.7 x 21 x 0.1 cm Photography . 11.7 x 8.3 x 0 inch

€190

Painting, Small Kim, Alfredo Scaroina

Alfredo Scaroina

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

€200

Painting, Plaque # 3, Pascal Marlin

Pascal Marlin

Painting . 30 x 20 x 0.3 cm Painting . 11.8 x 7.9 x 0.1 inch

€190

Fine Art Drawings, Porto Pollo_15, Galya Popova

Galya Popova

Fine Art Drawings . 42 x 29.7 x 0.1 cm Fine Art Drawings . 16.5 x 11.7 x 0 inch

€460

Painting, Enso 20, Christian Deplante

Christian Deplante

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

€350

Fine Art Drawings, Kuskovo estate, Simon Kozhin

Simon Kozhin

Fine Art Drawings . 21 x 28.2 x 0.1 cm Fine Art Drawings . 8.3 x 11.1 x 0 inch

€2,800

Photography, Children’s, Bridgeman

Bridgeman

Photography . 30 x 24 x 0.1 cm Photography . 11.8 x 9.4 x 0 inch

€240

Fine Art Drawings, Cuckoo bird, Galya Popova

Galya Popova

Fine Art Drawings . 42 x 29.7 x 0.1 cm Fine Art Drawings . 16.5 x 11.7 x 0 inch

€460

Design, Hanji. Stool, WKND Lab

WKND Lab

Design . 40.9 x 31 x 37.8 cm Design . 16.1 x 12.2 x 14.9 inch

€1,162

Photography, Averse, Tanguy Mendrisse

Tanguy Mendrisse

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

€160

Fine Art Drawings, Painting Through Fear, Michael Alan

Michael Alan

Fine Art Drawings . 27.3 x 22.2 x 0.1 cm Fine Art Drawings . 10.75 x 8.75 x 0.04 inch

€1,900

Print, Mc Do Fries Roy, Brain Roy

Brain Roy

Print . 38 x 28 x 1 cm Print . 15 x 11 x 0.4 inch

€120

Photography, Dalineries, CallypSö

CallypSö

Photography . 32 x 42 x 5 cm Photography . 12.6 x 16.5 x 2 inch

€160

Photography, #9, Julien Espiaut

#9

Julien Espiaut

Photography . 29.7 x 21 x 0.1 cm Photography . 11.7 x 8.3 x 0 inch

€190