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, Women, Hubert Ollivier

Hubert Ollivier

Painting . 38 x 46 x 1.8 cm Painting . 15 x 18.1 x 0.7 inch

€250

Painting, Blue, Eric Munsch

Eric Munsch

Painting . 30 x 30 x 2.5 cm Painting . 11.8 x 11.8 x 1 inch

€450

Painting, Wave, Mishurovsky Victor

Mishurovsky Victor

Painting . 20.5 x 38 x 2 cm Painting . 8.1 x 15 x 0.8 inch

€250

Painting, Tide No. 24, Elizabeth Becker

Elizabeth Becker

Painting . 27.9 x 38.1 x 0.3 cm Painting . 11 x 15 x 0.1 inch

€233

Painting, West No. 3, Elizabeth Becker

Elizabeth Becker

Painting . 30.5 x 40.6 x 0.3 cm Painting . 12 x 16 x 0.1 inch

€233

Painting, West No. 2, Elizabeth Becker

Elizabeth Becker

Painting . 40.6 x 30.5 x 0.3 cm Painting . 16 x 12 x 0.1 inch

€233

Fine Art Drawings, Darwin, Christian Frederiksen

Christian Frederiksen

Fine Art Drawings . 46 x 38 x 0.1 cm Fine Art Drawings . 18.1 x 15 x 0 inch

€1,500

Fine Art Drawings, Memories VI, Yulia Belasla

Yulia Belasla

Fine Art Drawings . 30 x 20 x 0.1 cm Fine Art Drawings . 11.8 x 7.9 x 0 inch

€609

Fine Art Drawings, Memories l, Yulia Belasla

Yulia Belasla

Fine Art Drawings . 30 x 20 x 0.1 cm Fine Art Drawings . 11.8 x 7.9 x 0 inch

€609

Painting, Fight, Tigran Mamikonyan

Tigran Mamikonyan

Painting . 50 x 30 x 2 cm Painting . 19.7 x 11.8 x 0.8 inch

€547

Painting, Tulips, Elizabeth Becker

Elizabeth Becker

Painting . 38.1 x 27.9 x 0.3 cm Painting . 15 x 11 x 0.1 inch

€210

Painting, Landscape, Martine Elhaik

Martine Elhaik

Painting . 15 x 30 x 3 cm Painting . 5.9 x 11.8 x 1.2 inch

€150

Fine Art Drawings, Horse Rider, Michael Alan

Michael Alan

Fine Art Drawings . 27.9 x 35.6 x 0.1 cm Fine Art Drawings . 11 x 14 x 0.04 inch

€2,188

Fine Art Drawings, Ocean breath, Ekaterina Zaznova

Ekaterina Zaznova

Fine Art Drawings . 40 x 30 x 0.1 cm Fine Art Drawings . 15.7 x 11.8 x 0 inch

€410

Fine Art Drawings, A Wall, Timi O

Timi O

Fine Art Drawings . 38.5 x 30 x 0.1 cm Fine Art Drawings . 15.2 x 11.8 x 0 inch

€274

Fine Art Drawings, In the Ferns, Alyona Masterkova

Alyona Masterkova

Fine Art Drawings . 28 x 35 x 0.1 cm Fine Art Drawings . 11 x 13.8 x 0 inch

€356

Fine Art Drawings, Dreams, Alyona Masterkova

Alyona Masterkova

Fine Art Drawings . 28 x 35 x 0.1 cm Fine Art Drawings . 11 x 13.8 x 0 inch

€356 €320

Fine Art Drawings, Light waves, Ekaterina Zaznova

Ekaterina Zaznova

Fine Art Drawings . 23 x 30.5 x 0.1 cm Fine Art Drawings . 9.1 x 12 x 0 inch

€388

Painting, Océan, Isabelle Marie

Isabelle Marie

Painting . 27 x 22 x 2 cm Painting . 10.6 x 8.7 x 0.8 inch

€500

Painting, Marine 1, Edith Heim

Edith Heim

Painting . 30 x 30 x 3.5 cm Painting . 11.8 x 11.8 x 1.4 inch

€120

Fine Art Drawings, Old Lady Draws, Fred Borghesi

Fred Borghesi

Fine Art Drawings . 30 x 21 x 0.3 cm Fine Art Drawings . 11.8 x 8.3 x 0.1 inch

€3,300

Fine Art Drawings, Attitude en dehors, Timi O

Timi O

Fine Art Drawings . 27 x 19.5 x 0.1 cm Fine Art Drawings . 10.6 x 7.7 x 0 inch

€228 €205

Fine Art Drawings, Magenta sunrise, Juliette June

Juliette June

Fine Art Drawings . 31 x 41 x 0.1 cm Fine Art Drawings . 12.2 x 16.1 x 0 inch

€700

Painting, Trees, Stanislav Bojankov

Stanislav Bojankov

Painting . 50 x 40 x 0.5 cm Painting . 19.7 x 15.7 x 0.2 inch

€450

Painting, Fleurs rouge, Isabelle Marie

Isabelle Marie

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

€600

Painting, Swing XVIII, Sia Aryai

Sia Aryai

Painting . 41.9 x 30.5 x 0.5 cm Painting . 16.5 x 12 x 0.2 inch

€629

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