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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Painting, Nafas, Elie Chammaa

Elie Chammaa

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

€750

Painting, Schnittblumen 02, Low Bros

Low Bros

Painting . 50 x 40 x 4 cm Painting . 19.7 x 15.7 x 1.6 inch

€3,200

Painting, Arbre, Xiu

Xiu

Painting . 50 x 20 x 1 cm Painting . 19.7 x 7.9 x 0.4 inch

€600

Painting, Bloom. Etude, Galya Popova

Galya Popova

Painting . 30 x 20 x 0.5 cm Painting . 11.8 x 7.9 x 0.2 inch

€500

Painting, Spring flowers, Pol Ledent

Pol Ledent

Painting . 50 x 40 x 2 cm Painting . 19.7 x 15.7 x 0.8 inch

€650

Fine Art Drawings, The Nursery, Alla Kechedzhan

Alla Kechedzhan

Fine Art Drawings . 30 x 40 x 0.3 cm Fine Art Drawings . 11.8 x 15.7 x 0.1 inch

€2,800

Painting, Landscape, Francine Ledieu

Francine Ledieu

Painting . 33 x 24.5 x 0.1 cm Painting . 13 x 9.6 x 0 inch

€1,300

Photography, Symétrie, Catherine Fabre

Catherine Fabre

Photography . 40 x 30 x 0.1 cm Photography . 15.7 x 11.8 x 0 inch

€450

Painting, Summerfield joy, Ann Dunbar

Ann Dunbar

Painting . 21 x 30 x 0.1 cm Painting . 8.3 x 11.8 x 0 inch

€700

Print, Buna, Aurélie Trabaud

Aurélie Trabaud

Print . 40 x 30 x 0.1 cm Print . 15.7 x 11.8 x 0 inch

€250

Painting, Floral Harmony, Grace Diehl

Grace Diehl

Painting . 27.9 x 35.6 x 1.8 cm Painting . 11 x 14 x 0.7 inch

€839

Painting, Flowers, Xiu

Xiu

Painting . 50 x 20 x 1 cm Painting . 19.7 x 7.9 x 0.4 inch

€600

Photography, Endless life, Shulan Wang

Shulan Wang

Photography . 30 x 45 x 1 cm Photography . 11.8 x 17.7 x 0.4 inch

€1,400

Painting, B & W, Tetiana Chubukova

Tetiana Chubukova

Painting . 40 x 40 x 2 cm Painting . 15.7 x 15.7 x 0.8 inch

€909

Photography, Osmose, Catherine Fabre

Catherine Fabre

Photography . 40 x 30 x 0.1 cm Photography . 15.7 x 11.8 x 0 inch

€450

Painting, Grenade, Xiu

Xiu

Painting . 50 x 20 x 1 cm Painting . 19.7 x 7.9 x 0.4 inch

€600

Photography, Sans titre, Stéphane Spach

Stéphane Spach

Photography . 50 x 40 x 0.1 cm Photography . 19.7 x 15.7 x 0 inch

€900

Photography, Arum Lily #1, Griselda Duch

Griselda Duch

Photography . 32 x 45 x 0.1 cm Photography . 12.6 x 17.7 x 0 inch

€708

Painting, Luz, Anne-Sophie Larcena

Luz

Anne-Sophie Larcena

Painting . 29 x 37 cm Painting . 11.4 x 14.6 inch

€350

Painting, Sunny bush, Simon Kozhin

Simon Kozhin

Painting . 20 x 27 x 0.3 cm Painting . 7.9 x 10.6 x 0.1 inch

€3,800

Painting, Blooms IV, Anastassia Skopp

Anastassia Skopp

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

€350

Painting, Trio, Isabelle Marie

Isabelle Marie

Painting . 29.5 x 41.5 x 0.01 cm Painting . 11.6 x 16.3 x 0 inch

€900

Painting, Hydrangea, Yehor Dulin

Yehor Dulin

Painting . 50 x 30 x 1.8 cm Painting . 19.7 x 11.8 x 0.7 inch

€909

Painting, Flowers, Jana Bakicova

Jana Bakicova

Painting . 40 x 30 x 4 cm Painting . 15.7 x 11.8 x 1.6 inch

€465

Painting, Peñíscola, AVEL Muñoz

AVEL Muñoz

Painting . 36 x 28 x 3 cm Painting . 14.2 x 11 x 1.2 inch

€800

Photography, Sans titre, Stéphane Spach

Stéphane Spach

Photography . 40 x 50 x 0.1 cm Photography . 15.7 x 19.7 x 0 inch

€900

Painting, Dahlia Flowers, Yehor Dulin

Yehor Dulin

Painting . 50 x 40 x 1.8 cm Painting . 19.7 x 15.7 x 0.7 inch

€863

Painting, Lilies flowers, Yehor Dulin

Yehor Dulin

Painting . 40 x 50 x 2 cm Painting . 15.7 x 19.7 x 0.8 inch

€909