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, Universo, Carmen Espejo

Carmen Espejo

Painting . 48 x 48 x 2 cm Painting . 18.9 x 18.9 x 0.8 inch

€5,300

Fine Art Drawings, Visage 6, Quentin Badran

Quentin Badran

Fine Art Drawings . 42 x 29.7 x 0.02 cm Fine Art Drawings . 16.5 x 11.7 x 0 inch

€4,450

Painting, Iris 1, Evgeniya Brits

Evgeniya Brits

Painting . 50 x 50 x 1.5 cm Painting . 19.7 x 19.7 x 0.6 inch

€800

Painting, Rosa Violeta, Evgeniya Brits

Evgeniya Brits

Painting . 50 x 50 x 1.5 cm Painting . 19.7 x 19.7 x 0.6 inch

€800

Painting, Untitled, PyB

PyB

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

€190

Painting, P3.2024, Antony Densham

Antony Densham

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

€966

Painting, Lilac, Maksym Kisilov

Maksym Kisilov

Painting . 29 x 40.9 x 2.5 cm Painting . 11.4 x 16.1 x 1 inch

€628

Painting, Iris bleu, Léa Damaggio

Léa Damaggio

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

€580

Painting, Mr Hope king color, MrHope

MrHope

Painting . 40 x 30 x 3 cm Painting . 15.7 x 11.8 x 1.2 inch

€140 €126

Print, Untitled 2, Saber (MSK)

Saber (MSK)

Print . 7 x 46 x 0.5 cm Print . 2.8 x 18.1 x 0.2 inch

€200

Painting, Sensuelle, Anne-Marie Torrisi

Anne-Marie Torrisi

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

€5,500

Painting, Head, Menashe Kadishman

Menashe Kadishman

Painting . 40 x 40 x 1.5 cm Painting . 15.7 x 15.7 x 0.6 inch

€1,890

Painting, On my Mind, Marian Williams

Marian Williams

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

€250

Painting, Tray 270, Olivier Ebel

Olivier Ebel

Painting . 44 x 43 x 0.1 cm Painting . 17.3 x 16.9 x 0 inch

€350

Painting, Lavender scent, Elena Lukina

Elena Lukina

Painting . 40 x 30 x 2 cm Painting . 15.7 x 11.8 x 0.8 inch

€870

Fine Art Drawings, Loi, Quentin Badran

Loi

Quentin Badran

Fine Art Drawings . 42 x 29.7 x 0.02 cm Fine Art Drawings . 16.5 x 11.7 x 0 inch

€4,450

Painting, Oeil Fou, cObo

cObo

Painting . 49 x 39 x 1 cm Painting . 19.3 x 15.4 x 0.4 inch

€800

Painting, Flowers, Jana Bakicova

Jana Bakicova

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

€465

Fine Art Drawings, Magenta sunset, 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, Flowers, Xiu

Xiu

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

€600

Painting, Sunset, Evgeny Chernyakovsky

Evgeny Chernyakovsky

Painting . 39.9 x 49.8 x 2.5 cm Painting . 15.7 x 19.6 x 1 inch

€987

Painting, Mezcla, Nathanael Koffi

Nathanael Koffi

Painting . 32 x 24 x 0.1 cm Painting . 12.6 x 9.4 x 0 inch

€400

Painting, Trees, Alexander Shandor

Alexander Shandor

Painting . 32 x 34 x 0.3 cm Painting . 12.6 x 13.4 x 0.1 inch

€718

Painting, Now and always, Maria Esmar

Maria Esmar

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

€900