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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Flowers on golden heart - Love, Amour, Liebe 3D plaster
Nataliia Krykun
Painting - 30 x 30 x 4 cm Painting - 11.8 x 11.8 x 1.6 inch
€650
Deluxe Edition stickers volume 2
Invader
Print - 30 x 23 x 0.1 cm Print - 11.8 x 9.1 x 0 inch
€3,300
Big Time Sensuality
Rodrigo
Photography - 42 x 31.5 x 0.1 cm Photography - 16.5 x 12.4 x 0 inch
€1,799 €1,620
My French Bulldog likes Campbell's soup
Patrick Cornée
Painting - 40 x 40 x 3 cm Painting - 15.7 x 15.7 x 1.2 inch
€900 €810
Crystal clear Jean
Richard Orlinski
Sculpture - 36 x 11 x 14 cm Sculpture - 14.2 x 4.3 x 5.5 inch
€22,800
Magnifying Glass (red)
Shepard Fairey (Obey)
Print - 33 x 25 x 0.2 cm Print - 13 x 9.8 x 0.1 inch
€400
Don't think twice
Cédric Lopez
Painting - 40 x 40 x 3 cm Painting - 15.7 x 15.7 x 1.2 inch
€500 €425
Urban Pop Bugs Bunny Soup
Priscilla Vettese
Painting - 30 x 30 x 2 cm Painting - 11.8 x 11.8 x 0.8 inch
€250
Smile On, Rainbow Flower!! Special Proof Ed 25
Takashi Murakami
Print - 50 x 50 cm Print - 19.7 x 19.7 inch
€6,781
Bearbrick Kaws Dissected 400% Grey
Bearbrick
Design - 28 x 13 x 9 cm Design - 11 x 5.1 x 3.5 inch
€2,000
Boutique éphémère à Nice
Richard Orlinski
Print - 30 x 30 x 0.1 cm Print - 11.8 x 11.8 x 0 inch
€650
Lithographie Store Housse Gold
Karl Lagasse
Print - 46.5 x 32 x 0.1 cm Print - 18.3 x 12.6 x 0 inch
€1,900
Iron Man Soup
Priscilla Vettese
Sculpture - 29 x 9.7 x 9.7 cm Sculpture - 11.4 x 3.8 x 3.8 inch
€390
Machine - Mesnager X Nora
Jérôme Mesnager
Painting - 30 x 21 x 7 cm Painting - 11.8 x 8.3 x 2.8 inch
€1,400
Post-punk flower (Red) Letterpress
Shepard Fairey (Obey)
Print - 45.72 x 30.48 x 0.2 cm Print - 18 x 12 x 0.1 inch
€475
Michelin China Gold
Li Lihong
Sculpture - 28.5 x 27 x 24 cm Sculpture - 11.2 x 10.6 x 9.4 inch
€2,500
Lumière intérieure... (Origami 2024)
Olivier Messas
Painting - 50 x 50 x 3 cm Painting - 19.7 x 19.7 x 1.2 inch
€1,600
Inked Serenity
Dervis Akdemir
Sculpture - 50 x 46 x 32 cm Sculpture - 19.7 x 18.1 x 12.6 inch
€1,258
Woman (a tribute to Matisse)
Dr. Love
Painting - 40 x 30 x 0.2 cm Painting - 15.7 x 11.8 x 0.1 inch
€90
Evening rest
Rakhmet Redzhepov (Ramzi)
Painting - 40 x 50 x 2 cm Painting - 15.7 x 19.7 x 0.8 inch
€600
0ld suitcase.
Rakhmet Redzhepov (Ramzi)
Painting - 40 x 50 x 2 cm Painting - 15.7 x 19.7 x 0.8 inch
€600
You Broke My Heart
Rakhmet Redzhepov (Ramzi)
Painting - 34 x 50 x 0.3 cm Painting - 13.4 x 19.7 x 0.1 inch
€650
Round and Round, the World Spins
Takashi Murakami
Print - 48 x 48 x 0.2 cm Print - 18.9 x 18.9 x 0.1 inch
€7,987
