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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La Lampe à Pétrole
Nicolas Carréga
Fine Art Drawings - 31.5 x 23.5 cm Fine Art Drawings - 12.4 x 9.3 inch
$298
Work
Monsieur Zéro
Fine Art Drawings - 29 x 40 x 0.1 cm Fine Art Drawings - 11.4 x 15.7 x 0 inch
$262
Portrait d'enfant
Madeleine Luka
Fine Art Drawings - 31 x 23 cm Fine Art Drawings - 12.2 x 9.1 inch
$179
Partie de Campagne
Pierre Gaillardot
Fine Art Drawings - 23.5 x 31.5 cm Fine Art Drawings - 9.3 x 12.4 inch
$238
The Wash House
Pierre Dubois
Fine Art Drawings - 48 x 38 x 0.1 cm Fine Art Drawings - 18.9 x 15 x 0 inch
$501
Portrait of woman
Riccardo Moretti
Fine Art Drawings - 35.5 x 36 x 0.2 cm Fine Art Drawings - 14 x 14.2 x 0.1 inch
$572
Three-quarter-length woman
Milena Sgambato
Painting - 45 x 40 x 2 cm Painting - 17.7 x 15.7 x 0.8 inch
$1,431
Etude pour Raboliot
Jean Commère
Fine Art Drawings - 34 x 27 x 0.2 cm Fine Art Drawings - 13.4 x 10.6 x 0.1 inch
$358
Ox-Bow wood's number 2
John Kilduff
Fine Art Drawings - 29.5 x 41.9 x 0.3 cm Fine Art Drawings - 11.6 x 16.5 x 0.1 inch
$545
Folie 7
Denis Poughon
Fine Art Drawings - 26 x 13 x 1.3 cm Fine Art Drawings - 10.2 x 5.1 x 0.5 inch
$417
Bubby & The Daisy Quest
Pamkiids
Sculpture - 21.5 x 35 x 14.5 cm Sculpture - 8.5 x 13.8 x 5.7 inch
$1,042
Homeland
Valeria Radzievska
Fine Art Drawings - 25.4 x 35.6 x 0.5 cm Fine Art Drawings - 10 x 14 x 0.2 inch
$350
Le voyageur et son chien
Bruno Foullon
Sculpture - 39 x 30 x 33 cm Sculpture - 15.4 x 11.8 x 13 inch
$429
Nout’ vié l’église Champ borne ek son band’ vacoas
Coryne Boyer
Print - 30 x 40 x 0.1 cm Print - 11.8 x 15.7 x 0 inch
$268
Character
Pascal Marlin
Fine Art Drawings - 31 x 24 x 0.1 cm Fine Art Drawings - 12.2 x 9.4 x 0 inch
$334 $234
Desolate Civilization
Chloe Jenkins
Painting - 35.6 x 45.7 x 5.1 cm Painting - 14 x 18 x 2 inch
$1,300
Hymne à l'amour
Emilie Teillaud
Sculpture - 42 x 22 x 12 cm Sculpture - 16.5 x 8.7 x 4.7 inch
$2,265
Sans titre
Jean-Charles Blais
Painting - 38.5 x 29.5 x 2 cm Painting - 15.2 x 11.6 x 0.8 inch
$2,742
La farandole
Lyne Seybel
Fine Art Drawings - 21 x 30 x 2 cm Fine Art Drawings - 8.3 x 11.8 x 0.8 inch
$334
Don't be afraid
Christian Dugardeyn
Painting - 40 x 40 x 2 cm Painting - 15.7 x 15.7 x 0.8 inch
$596
Portrait Rêveur
Sounya Whang
Fine Art Drawings - 39 x 26 x 0.1 cm Fine Art Drawings - 15.4 x 10.2 x 0 inch
$191
Tanto, Stava già male
Nicola Facchini
Sculpture - 25 x 30 x 32 cm Sculpture - 9.8 x 11.8 x 12.6 inch
$3,338
New Eva 59fifty wengé
Anne Juliette Deschamps
Sculpture - 46 x 30 x 24 cm Sculpture - 18.1 x 11.8 x 9.4 inch
$6,914
Quiet country farmhouse - Tuscany landscape painting
Claudio Pallini
Painting - 20 x 30 x 1 cm Painting - 7.9 x 11.8 x 0.4 inch
$179
Rouge est la couleur du mystère 20
Jean-Charles Taillandier
Painting - 50 x 34.5 cm Painting - 19.7 x 13.6 inch
$525
Héraclès (portrait)
Jérôme Bouscarat
Fine Art Drawings - 40 x 30 x 0.5 cm Fine Art Drawings - 15.7 x 11.8 x 0.2 inch
$515
Afrikaans
Korede Solaja
Fine Art Drawings - 49 x 39 x 1 cm Fine Art Drawings - 19.3 x 15.4 x 0.4 inch
$2,234
Personnage baroque
Pascal Marlin
Painting - 31 x 24 x 0.1 cm Painting - 12.2 x 9.4 x 0 inch
$334 $234
Mon rêve familier
Barbara Petit Lisy
Painting - 35 x 27 x 0.5 cm Painting - 13.8 x 10.6 x 0.2 inch
$916
Basket with roses - Italian old painting + frame
Aldo Luxardo
Painting - 35 x 50 x 1 cm Painting - 13.8 x 19.7 x 0.4 inch
$417
Smat156,part2
Lassana Sarr
Fine Art Drawings - 21 x 29.7 x 0.2 cm Fine Art Drawings - 8.3 x 11.7 x 0.1 inch
$834
Variation #11 (série méditation)
José Luis Lopez Lara
Painting - 25.7 x 37.7 cm Painting - 10.1 x 14.8 inch
$536
Two Women
Paul César Helleu
Fine Art Drawings - 40 x 50 x 2 cm Fine Art Drawings - 15.7 x 19.7 x 0.8 inch
$11,325
Au bout de soi
Romain Tiercin
Sculpture - 40 x 29 x 22 cm Sculpture - 15.7 x 11.4 x 8.7 inch
$16,690
Woman playing cards
Susana Mata
Fine Art Drawings - 40 x 30 x 0.03 cm Fine Art Drawings - 15.7 x 11.8 x 0 inch
$715
Des lueurs ocre et rouge
Jean-Claude Campana
Painting - 33 x 41 x 2.5 cm Painting - 13 x 16.1 x 1 inch
$2,742
Louise dans un carton
David Martin
Photography - 40 x 35 x 0.1 cm Photography - 15.7 x 13.8 x 0 inch
$834
London, NY, LA, Tokyo and other cities in Asia
Yoshitomo Nara
Fine Art Drawings - 30 x 21 cm Fine Art Drawings - 11.8 x 8.3 inch
$89,409
Jeune femme endormie
Eugène Bégarat
Painting - 35 x 27 x 2 cm Painting - 13.8 x 10.6 x 0.8 inch
$2,265
Banderillero II
Wai Ming Lung
Fine Art Drawings - 50 x 32.5 x 0.1 cm Fine Art Drawings - 19.7 x 12.8 x 0 inch
$715
Toro joroba
Antonio Martinez Ruiz
Sculpture - 43 x 48 x 8 cm Sculpture - 16.9 x 18.9 x 3.1 inch
$1,162
Composition with Cigarettes
Pazza Pennello
Painting - 50 x 50 x 2 cm Painting - 19.7 x 19.7 x 0.8 inch
$5,365
Gaufres au sirop
Valéry Vecu Quitard
Painting - 24 x 33 x 1.5 cm Painting - 9.4 x 13 x 0.6 inch
$1,758
Lottia
Chloe Marsters
Fine Art Drawings - 40 x 28.7 x 1 cm Fine Art Drawings - 15.7 x 11.3 x 0.4 inch
$1,013