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
La vie en rose
Christine Desplanque
Painting - 50 x 50 x 2 cm Painting - 19.7 x 19.7 x 0.8 inch
$708
Miro et moi
Muriel Deumie
Fine Art Drawings - 29 x 39 x 1 cm Fine Art Drawings - 11.4 x 15.4 x 0.4 inch
$714
La mer tranquille
Christine Desplanque
Painting - 50 x 50 x 3 cm Painting - 19.7 x 19.7 x 1.2 inch
$708
Soleil brulant
Christine Desplanque
Painting - 50 x 50 x 3 cm Painting - 19.7 x 19.7 x 1.2 inch
$708
Factory & Soft mountain chain
Marion Sagon
Print - 40 x 30 x 3 cm Print - 15.7 x 11.8 x 1.2 inch
$226
Voici venir l'orage
Nadine de Lespinats
Painting - 50 x 50 x 3 cm Painting - 19.7 x 19.7 x 1.2 inch
$905
Bouteilles et orange
Nadine de Lespinats
Painting - 50 x 50 x 3 cm Painting - 19.7 x 19.7 x 1.2 inch
$881
Shadows from the past
Vladimir Kolosov
Painting - 30.5 x 40.6 x 0.6 cm Painting - 12 x 16 x 0.25 inch
$480
Nostalgia for the sea
Ljubow Jung
Painting - 50 x 50 x 1.5 cm Painting - 19.7 x 19.7 x 0.6 inch
$824
Geisha VI
Teo Franco
Fine Art Drawings - 42 x 29.7 x 0.01 cm Fine Art Drawings - 16.5 x 11.7 x 0 inch
$655
Suspendida e ingrávida por Amor
Teo Franco
Fine Art Drawings - 42 x 29.7 x 0.1 cm Fine Art Drawings - 16.5 x 11.7 x 0 inch
$655
The dream (a tribute to Picasso)
Dr. Love
Painting - 40 x 30 x 0.2 cm Painting - 15.7 x 11.8 x 0.1 inch
$107
20231221 Time Travel-Touch the Future 1
Yaki Li
Painting - 26.5 x 18.5 x 0.1 cm Painting - 10.4 x 7.3 x 0 inch
$339
20231221 Time Travel-Touch the Future 2
Yaki Li
Painting - 26 x 18.5 x 0.1 cm Painting - 10.2 x 7.3 x 0 inch
$339
Chromatic Harmony
Sergey Khachatryan
Painting - 35 x 35 x 2 cm Painting - 13.8 x 13.8 x 0.8 inch
$900
Tiny whales from above
Ventzislav Dikov
Painting - 30 x 30 x 2 cm Painting - 11.8 x 11.8 x 0.8 inch
$1,488
Alexandre le malicieux
Christophe Ausello
Painting - 35 x 24 x 2 cm Painting - 13.8 x 9.4 x 0.8 inch
$1,167
Blossoms by the Window
Vahe Bagumyan
Painting - 50 x 40 x 2 cm Painting - 19.7 x 15.7 x 0.8 inch
$380
Beyond Duality, Chroma Concentrics #4
Peta Jacobs
Photography - 32 x 32 x 2 cm Photography - 12.6 x 12.6 x 0.8 inch
$774
Beyond Duality, Chroma Concentrics #5
Peta Jacobs
Photography - 32 x 32 x 2 cm Photography - 12.6 x 12.6 x 0.8 inch
$774
Echo Of Petals
Rebecca Klementovich
Painting - 50.8 x 50.8 x 5.1 cm Painting - 20 x 20 x 2 inch
$1,050
Vive les fleurs et cool
Seb Paul Michel
Painting - 50 x 50 x 3 cm Painting - 19.7 x 19.7 x 1.2 inch
$595
French School White Horse - Impressionist NSWE
Bazévian Delacapucinière
Painting - 40 x 40 x 3.5 cm Painting - 15.7 x 15.7 x 1.4 inch
$774
Summer still life
Aloyzas Smilingis
Painting - 39 x 50 x 0.5 cm Painting - 15.4 x 19.7 x 0.2 inch
$1,071
Shakespeare Today Handmade Sculpture for Home Decor
Dervis Akdemir
Sculpture - 42 x 23 x 15 cm Sculpture - 16.5 x 9.1 x 5.9 inch
$254
Giant Saguaro Cactus, Arizona
Michael K. Yamaoka
Photography - 50.8 x 40.6 x 0.1 cm Photography - 20 x 16 x 0.04 inch
$2,500