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, Weightless, Marina Lukianova

Marina Lukianova

Fine Art Drawings . 32 x 32 x 0.1 cm Fine Art Drawings . 12.6 x 12.6 x 0 inch

€822

Painting, Café de Paris, David Jamin

David Jamin

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

€1,200

Photography, La Muse, Rodrigo

Rodrigo

Photography . 35.5 x 23.7 x 0.1 cm Photography . 14 x 9.3 x 0 inch

€995

Fine Art Drawings, A company, Anna Wardega

Anna Wardega

Fine Art Drawings . 21 x 30 cm Fine Art Drawings . 8.3 x 11.8 inch

€200

Painting, Free Jazz, Moise Cohen

Moise Cohen

Painting . 49 x 38 x 1 cm Painting . 19.3 x 15 x 0.4 inch

€890

Painting, Who Pay ? hopper, Spaco

Spaco

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

€200

Painting, Poles Apart 3, Marian Williams

Marian Williams

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

€450 €360

Painting, Lost, Tetiana Chubukova

Tetiana Chubukova

Painting . 41 x 33 x 3.5 cm Painting . 16.1 x 13 x 1.4 inch

€1,277

Fine Art Drawings, Sans titre, Camille Adra

Camille Adra

Fine Art Drawings . 30 x 40 x 0.2 cm Fine Art Drawings . 11.8 x 15.7 x 0.1 inch

€200

Painting, Village, Sergiy A.

Sergiy A.

Painting . 26 x 37 x 2 cm Painting . 10.2 x 14.6 x 0.8 inch

€255

Painting, Sea walk, Natalya Mougenot

Natalya Mougenot

Painting . 42 x 29.7 x 0.1 cm Painting . 16.5 x 11.7 x 0 inch

€450

Photography, Children in Boat, Ken Heyman

Ken Heyman

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

€4,382

Painting, Morning, Alexander Levich

Alexander Levich

Painting . 20 x 30 x 3.5 cm Painting . 7.9 x 11.8 x 1.4 inch

€750 €600

Photography, Poolside Chic, Slim Aarons

Slim Aarons

Photography . 41 x 31 cm Photography . 16.1 x 12.2 inch

€2,050

Photography, Poolside Host, Slim Aarons

Slim Aarons

Photography . 31 x 41 cm Photography . 12.2 x 16.1 inch

€2,050

Photography, Nelda's Pool, Slim Aarons

Slim Aarons

Photography . 31 x 41 cm Photography . 12.2 x 16.1 inch

€2,050

Photography, Chalet Costi, Slim Aarons

Slim Aarons

Photography . 30 x 30 cm Photography . 11.8 x 11.8 inch

€2,050

Painting, Let's Dance, Spaco

Spaco

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

€190

Painting, Debout, Antoine Josse

Antoine Josse

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

€700

Painting, Angel Breitling, Spaco

Spaco

Painting . 40 x 33 x 3 cm Painting . 15.7 x 13 x 1.2 inch

€240

Painting, Girl Ballons military, Spaco

Spaco

Painting . 40 x 33 x 3 cm Painting . 15.7 x 13 x 1.2 inch

€250

Painting, Degas Dance, Spaco

Spaco

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

€170

Painting, Adieu Ventura Dewaere, Spaco

Spaco

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

€200

Painting, Rajasthan, Raymond Poulet

Raymond Poulet

Painting . 35 x 27 x 2 cm Painting . 13.8 x 10.6 x 0.8 inch

€3,500

Painting, Daydream, Alexander Levich

Alexander Levich

Painting . 35 x 45 x 2 cm Painting . 13.8 x 17.7 x 0.8 inch

€690 €552

Fine Art Drawings, No Title, Coronus, Baurjan Aralov

Baurjan Aralov

Fine Art Drawings . 30 x 40 x 0.2 cm Fine Art Drawings . 11.8 x 15.7 x 0.1 inch

€500

Photography, Puerto Vallarta, Jonathan Dy

Jonathan Dy

Photography . 26.57 x 20 cm Photography . 10.5 x 7.9 inch

€250

Fine Art Drawings, Mes nuits apaches, Topolino

Topolino

Fine Art Drawings . 29.7 x 21 x 1 cm Fine Art Drawings . 11.7 x 8.3 x 0.4 inch

€240

Photography, La mirada, James Sparshatt

James Sparshatt

Photography . 40 x 50 cm Photography . 15.7 x 19.7 inch

€720

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