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…
Save your search and find it in your favorites
Save your search to find it quickly
Saved search
Your search is accessible from the favorites tab > My favorite searches
Unsaved search
A problem occurred
Uproarious Road - Beatles
Diederik Van Apple
Print - 50 x 50 x 3 cm Print - 19.7 x 19.7 x 1.2 inch
$1,311
Sans titre (marx)
Christos Kalfas
Fine Art Drawings - 21 x 27 x 0.2 cm Fine Art Drawings - 8.3 x 10.6 x 0.1 inch
$894
Meltdown - New beginning
Ralph Posset
Sculpture - 32 x 33 x 4 cm Sculpture - 12.6 x 13 x 1.6 inch
$1,550
Meltdown - Stairway to hell
Ralph Posset
Sculpture - 29 x 30 x 4 cm Sculpture - 11.4 x 11.8 x 1.6 inch
$1,431
Untitled
Brian Calvin
Fine Art Drawings - 33.2 x 14.9 x 2 cm Fine Art Drawings - 13.1 x 5.9 x 0.8 inch
$8,500
Babolex Snoop Dogg
Vincent Faudemer
Sculpture - 30 x 18 x 15 cm Sculpture - 11.8 x 7.1 x 5.9 inch
$1,895 $1,706
Orange Edition No.17
Doris Marten
Painting - 30 x 30 x 2 cm Painting - 11.8 x 11.8 x 0.8 inch
$1,550
Luxury Art Toffee - Vogue
Michael Daniels
Sculpture - 33 x 10 x 10 cm Sculpture - 13 x 3.9 x 3.9 inch
$268
Luxury Art Toffee - Snoopy - Joe Cool
Michael Daniels
Sculpture - 33 x 10 x 10 cm Sculpture - 13 x 3.9 x 3.9 inch
$268
Chateau de cartes
Maksim Lopez
Fine Art Drawings - 37 x 27 x 1 cm Fine Art Drawings - 14.6 x 10.6 x 0.4 inch
$596
Hope (a tribute to Banksy)
Dr. Love
Painting - 30 x 40 x 0.2 cm Painting - 11.8 x 15.7 x 0.1 inch
$107
Super love rebel (a tribute to Banksy)
Dr. Love
Painting - 30 x 40 x 0.2 cm Painting - 11.8 x 15.7 x 0.1 inch
$107
Love and Hope Red (a tribute to Banksy)
Dr. Love
Painting - 40 x 30 x 0.2 cm Painting - 15.7 x 11.8 x 0.1 inch
$107
Haring Family Love
Lasveguix
Fine Art Drawings - 40 x 30 x 0.2 cm Fine Art Drawings - 15.7 x 11.8 x 0.1 inch
$584
Hommage à Keith Haring (1)
Lasveguix
Fine Art Drawings - 40 x 30 x 0.2 cm Fine Art Drawings - 15.7 x 11.8 x 0.1 inch
$584
Country Boy in Grey
Han-Jin Choi
Sculpture - 30 x 13 x 9 cm Sculpture - 11.8 x 5.1 x 3.5 inch
$1,500
Art is not a crime 1/1 (1)
N.Nathan
Sculpture - 25 x 26 x 6 cm Sculpture - 9.8 x 10.2 x 2.4 inch
$1,609
Jackpot COVID 19
Jean-Marie Gitard (Mr Strange)
Print - 49 x 49 x 0.1 cm Print - 19.3 x 19.3 x 0 inch
$94
Luxury Art Toffee - USA - Chiclets
Michael Daniels
Sculpture - 33 x 10 x 10 cm Sculpture - 13 x 3.9 x 3.9 inch
$268
Luxury Art Toffee - Art Chups
Michael Daniels
Sculpture - 33 x 10 x 10 cm Sculpture - 13 x 3.9 x 3.9 inch
$268
Candy Collage Epoxy Art - Maoam
Koen Betjes
Sculpture - 28.5 x 23.5 x 6 cm Sculpture - 11.2 x 9.3 x 2.4 inch
$476
Candy Collage Epoxy Art - Chupa Chups
Koen Betjes
Sculpture - 28.5 x 23.5 x 6 cm Sculpture - 11.2 x 9.3 x 2.4 inch
$476
Blood Moon
Susumu Kamijo
Fine Art Drawings - 43.2 x 35.6 x 2 cm Fine Art Drawings - 17 x 14 x 0.8 inch
$16,500
Mixed Signals
Danny J. Martinez Van Dame One
Painting - 30 x 24 x 4 cm Painting - 11.8 x 9.4 x 1.6 inch
$3,457
Joyeuse Pâques
Glauc'
Fine Art Drawings - 20.3 x 30.5 x 0.3 cm Fine Art Drawings - 8 x 12 x 0.1 inch
$954
Parrain / Marraine
Glauc'
Fine Art Drawings - 20.3 x 30.5 x 0.3 cm Fine Art Drawings - 8 x 12 x 0.1 inch
$954
Soignants, super-héros
Glauc'
Fine Art Drawings - 20.3 x 30.5 x 0.3 cm Fine Art Drawings - 8 x 12 x 0.1 inch
$954
Art Toffee - French Luxury
Michael Daniels
Sculpture - 33 x 10 x 10 cm Sculpture - 13 x 3.9 x 3.9 inch
$298
Life is a real fighter
Jeremy Besset
Painting - 40 x 29 x 1 cm Painting - 15.7 x 11.4 x 0.4 inch
$346
Breaking Medcom
Freaks the Fab
Fine Art Drawings - 20.3 x 30.5 x 0.3 cm Fine Art Drawings - 8 x 12 x 0.1 inch
$596
FriX Pfizer
Freaks the Fab
Fine Art Drawings - 20.3 x 30.5 x 0.3 cm Fine Art Drawings - 8 x 12 x 0.1 inch
$596
Dark Night Blooming Bear
Blooming Bears
Sculpture - 32 x 18 x 12 cm Sculpture - 12.6 x 7.1 x 4.7 inch
$2,375
Cute Blooming Bear
Blooming Bears
Sculpture - 32 x 18 x 12 cm Sculpture - 12.6 x 7.1 x 4.7 inch
$2,375
Andy Warhol, Campbell's Soup, 1964
Ken Heyman
Photography - 29.2 x 35.6 x 1.3 cm Photography - 11.5 x 14 x 0.5 inch
$4,800
Do What The Fuck Makes You Happy
CB Hoyo
Print - 48.3 x 33 x 1.5 cm Print - 19 x 13 x 0.6 inch
$1,748
Art is not a crime - Silver edition
N.Nathan
Sculpture - 27 x 25 x 6 cm Sculpture - 10.6 x 9.8 x 2.4 inch
$1,490
Stormtrooper Painter
Koen Betjes
Painting - 42 x 29.5 x 0.05 cm Painting - 16.5 x 11.6 x 0 inch
$536
Spaceman Richie (hand-retouched)
Alec Monopoly
Sculpture - 30 x 20 x 18 cm Sculpture - 11.8 x 7.9 x 7.1 inch
$5,365
USA. Nevada. Reno. Marilyn's reaction to a lucky toss. Marilyn Monroe and John Huston. 1960
Eve Arnold
Photography - 40.6 x 30.5 x 5.1 cm Photography - 16 x 12 x 2 inch
$2,350
Dragibus Tribute (Medium format)
Annick Cuadrado
Sculpture - 33 x 26 x 6 cm Sculpture - 13 x 10.2 x 2.4 inch
$2,384
Coca Cola tribute (Medium format)
Annick Cuadrado
Sculpture - 33 x 26 x 6 cm Sculpture - 13 x 10.2 x 2.4 inch
$2,384
Schtroumpfs tribute (Medium format)
Annick Cuadrado
Sculpture - 33 x 26 x 6 cm Sculpture - 13 x 10.2 x 2.4 inch
$2,384
Chamallows tribute (medium format)
Annick Cuadrado
Sculpture - 33 x 26 x 6 cm Sculpture - 13 x 10.2 x 2.4 inch
$2,384
