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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Sculpture, Tête, Marc Petit

Marc Petit

Sculpture - 35 x 17 x 13 cm Sculpture - 13.8 x 6.7 x 5.1 inch

$5,094

Painting, Sheep, Menashe Kadishman

Menashe Kadishman

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

$1,250

Sculpture, Face, Gregos

Gregos

Sculpture - 30 x 30 x 4 cm Sculpture - 11.8 x 11.8 x 1.6 inch

$1,028

Painting, Sheep, Menashe Kadishman

Menashe Kadishman

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

$1,350

Painting, 0118.15, Tracey Adams

Tracey Adams

Painting - 48 x 32 cm Painting - 18.9 x 12.6 inch

$1,815

Fine Art Drawings, Untitled 202, Tarek Butayhi

Tarek Butayhi

Fine Art Drawings - 42 x 30 cm Fine Art Drawings - 16.5 x 11.8 inch

$800

Painting, Head, Menashe Kadishman

Menashe Kadishman

Painting - 40 x 40 x 1.5 cm Painting - 15.7 x 15.7 x 0.6 inch

$2,292

Sculpture, Carla, Pere Sala

Pere Sala

Sculpture - 48 x 27 x 21 cm Sculpture - 18.9 x 10.6 x 8.3 inch

$5,579

Painting, Face 3, Tarek Butayhi

Tarek Butayhi

Painting - 50 x 50 cm Painting - 19.7 x 19.7 inch

$1,500

Sculpture, Un roc, Philippe Buil

Philippe Buil

Sculpture - 36 x 20 x 10 cm Sculpture - 14.2 x 7.9 x 3.9 inch

$1,880

Sculpture, Maya, Irina Shark

Irina Shark

Sculpture - 31 x 15 x 21 cm Sculpture - 12.2 x 5.9 x 8.3 inch

$6,307

Painting, Face 4, Tarek Butayhi

Tarek Butayhi

Painting - 50 x 50 cm Painting - 19.7 x 19.7 inch

$1,500

Sculpture, Le bel essor, Yoann Merienne

Yoann Merienne

Sculpture - 42 x 19 x 25 cm Sculpture - 16.5 x 7.5 x 9.8 inch

$12,128

Painting, Le bain de soleil, Jéko

Jéko

Painting - 27 x 41 x 2 cm Painting - 10.6 x 16.1 x 0.8 inch

$1,577

Sculpture, Metropolis, Irina Shark

Irina Shark

Sculpture - 34 x 13 x 23 cm Sculpture - 13.4 x 5.1 x 9.1 inch

$6,671

Painting, Attique # 1, Pascal Marlin

Pascal Marlin

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

$267

Fine Art Drawings, Untitled 270, Tarek Butayhi

Tarek Butayhi

Fine Art Drawings - 50 x 35 cm Fine Art Drawings - 19.7 x 13.8 inch

$950

Sculpture, Hymm 013, Sudiczki

Sudiczki

Sculpture - 39 x 24.5 x 20 cm Sculpture - 15.4 x 9.6 x 7.9 inch

$1,941

Sculpture, Hymm 010, Sudiczki

Sudiczki

Sculpture - 39 x 24.5 x 20 cm Sculpture - 15.4 x 9.6 x 7.9 inch

$2,183

Sculpture, Eole, Yoann Merienne

Yoann Merienne

Sculpture - 48 x 49 x 37 cm Sculpture - 18.9 x 19.3 x 14.6 inch

$16,980

Painting, Fête, Zwy Milshtein

Zwy Milshtein

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

$1,941

Sculpture, The dreamer, Maria Guilbert

Maria Guilbert

Sculpture - 27 x 15 x 17 cm Sculpture - 10.6 x 5.9 x 6.7 inch

$1,941

Painting, Ghost I, Michael Grine

Michael Grine

Painting - 22.9 x 30.5 x 0 cm Painting - 9 x 12 x 0.01 inch

$300

Painting, Crying, Michael Grine

Michael Grine

Painting - 30.5 x 22.9 x 0.3 cm Painting - 12 x 9 x 0.1 inch

$400

Sculpture, Sirocco, Yoann Merienne

Yoann Merienne

Sculpture - 38 x 21 x 23 cm Sculpture - 15 x 8.3 x 9.1 inch

$8,490

Painting, Ataraxia, Olumide Ajayi

Olumide Ajayi

Painting - 30.5 x 25.4 x 2.5 cm Painting - 12 x 10 x 1 inch

$480

Photography, Autoportrait II, Feng Hatat

Feng Hatat

Photography - 50 x 35 x 2 cm Photography - 19.7 x 13.8 x 0.8 inch

$728

Sculpture, Bronze Mask, Gregos

Gregos

Sculpture - 30 x 30 x 2 cm Sculpture - 11.8 x 11.8 x 0.8 inch

$1,031

Sculpture, Hymm 004, Sudiczki

Sudiczki

Sculpture - 39 x 24.5 x 20 cm Sculpture - 15.4 x 9.6 x 7.9 inch

$2,602

Sculpture, Hymm 005, Sudiczki

Sudiczki

Sculpture - 38.5 x 25 x 20 cm Sculpture - 15.2 x 9.8 x 7.9 inch

$2,759

Painting, Attique # 6, Pascal Marlin

Pascal Marlin

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

$267

Painting, Attique # 5, Pascal Marlin

Pascal Marlin

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

$267

Painting, Attique # 3, Pascal Marlin

Pascal Marlin

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

$267

Painting, Attique # 2, Pascal Marlin

Pascal Marlin

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

$267

Painting, L'accueil, Zwy Milshtein

Zwy Milshtein

Painting - 39 x 22 cm Painting - 15.4 x 8.7 inch

$2,183

Sculpture, Face, Gregos

Gregos

Sculpture - 30 x 30 x 4 cm Sculpture - 11.8 x 11.8 x 1.6 inch

$1,031

Painting, Attique # 4, Pascal Marlin

Pascal Marlin

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

$267

Painting, Giula, Istraille

Istraille

Painting - 20.3 x 30.5 x 0.3 cm Painting - 8 x 12 x 0.1 inch

$1,455

Fine Art Drawings, Untitled 190, Tarek Butayhi

Tarek Butayhi

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

$700

Sculpture, Bronze Mask, Gregos

Gregos

Sculpture - 30 x 30 x 2 cm Sculpture - 11.8 x 11.8 x 0.8 inch

$1,031

Sculpture, Testa, Igor Mitoraj

Igor Mitoraj

Sculpture - 19 x 27 x 20 cm Sculpture - 7.5 x 10.6 x 7.9 inch

$42,450

Sculpture, Face, Gregos

Gregos

Sculpture - 30 x 30 x 4 cm Sculpture - 11.8 x 11.8 x 1.6 inch

$1,031

Painting, Portrait, Stanislav Bojankov

Stanislav Bojankov

Painting - 41 x 33 x 0.5 cm Painting - 16.1 x 13 x 0.2 inch

$1,213 $1,092

Sculpture, Head, Sirio Pellegrini

Sirio Pellegrini

Sculpture - 27 x 20 x 16 cm Sculpture - 10.6 x 7.9 x 6.3 inch

$4,124

Painting, Bob Marley, PyB

PyB

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

$230