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, Untitled, Mauro Bellucci

Untitled

Mauro Bellucci

Painting - 50 x 50 x 0.1 cm Painting - 19.7 x 19.7 x 0 inch

$1,186

Painting, Sans titre I, Yu Fu

Sans titre I

Yu Fu

Painting - 40 x 30 x 1 cm Painting - 15.7 x 11.8 x 0.4 inch

$949 $854

Painting, Naples, Alexandre Garbell

Naples

Alexandre Garbell

Painting - 42 x 22 x 0.5 cm Painting - 16.5 x 8.7 x 0.2 inch

$2,254

Painting, Be Happy, Claire D.

Be Happy

Claire D.

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

$949

Painting, Hug me, Liga Kempe

Hug me

Liga Kempe

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

$1,008

Painting, Watch II, Raül Mateo

Watch II

Raül Mateo

Painting - 27 x 22 x 5 cm Painting - 10.6 x 8.7 x 2 inch

$771

Sculpture, P&O, Sylvie Cappe

P&O

Sylvie Cappe

Sculpture - 49 x 35 x 35 cm Sculpture - 19.3 x 13.8 x 13.8 inch

$854

Painting, Port, Joaquin Cabane

Port

Joaquin Cabane

Painting - 35 x 50 x 0.03 cm Painting - 13.8 x 19.7 x 0 inch

$1,364

Painting, Rising, Lynne Taetzsch

Rising

Lynne Taetzsch

Painting - 50.8 x 50.8 x 2.5 cm Painting - 20 x 20 x 1 inch

$810

Sculpture, Flamenco, Michèle Chast

Flamenco

Michèle Chast

Sculpture - 46 x 26 x 25 cm Sculpture - 18.1 x 10.2 x 9.8 inch

$5,339

Print, Samuraï en sacai, Shuz

Samuraï en sacai

Shuz

Print - 50 x 25 x 0.2 cm Print - 19.7 x 9.8 x 0.1 inch

$107

Fine Art Drawings, Intérieur, Paul Aïzpiri

Intérieur

Paul Aïzpiri

Fine Art Drawings - 35.5 x 34.5 cm Fine Art Drawings - 14 x 13.6 inch

$949

Painting, Fresh Prince, Michael Alan

Fresh Prince

Michael Alan

Painting - 35.6 x 27.9 x 0.1 cm Painting - 14 x 11 x 0.04 inch

$2,600

Fine Art Drawings, Yea, Sam Francis

Yea

Sam Francis

Fine Art Drawings - 21 x 27 x 1 cm Fine Art Drawings - 8.3 x 10.6 x 0.4 inch

$26,099

Painting, Christmas, Esy Beluzzi

Christmas

Esy Beluzzi

Painting - 24 x 32 x 0.3 cm Painting - 9.4 x 12.6 x 0.1 inch

$344

Painting, Travelers, Giorgi Melikidze

Travelers

Giorgi Melikidze

Painting - 40.1 x 40.3 x 2 cm Painting - 15.8 x 15.9 x 0.8 inch

$1,780

Painting, 5 pm, Richard Szkutnik

5 pm

Richard Szkutnik

Painting - 27.9 x 35.6 x 0.5 cm Painting - 11 x 14 x 0.2 inch

$690

Painting, Beky, Ninu Art

Beky

Ninu Art

Painting - 50 x 40 x 2.5 cm Painting - 19.7 x 15.7 x 1 inch

$878

Painting, 10:32, Marija Nikolic

10:32

Marija Nikolic

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

$760

Painting, Paisatge, Manuel Mayoral

Paisatge

Manuel Mayoral

Painting - 22 x 27 x 3 cm Painting - 8.7 x 10.6 x 1.2 inch

$652

Painting, Travel, Greta Makarevich

Travel

Greta Makarevich

Painting - 45 x 35 x 2 cm Painting - 17.7 x 13.8 x 0.8 inch

$800

Photography, Integration, Sofia Alazraki

Integration

Sofia Alazraki

Photography - 45 x 30 x 0.2 cm Photography - 17.7 x 11.8 x 0.1 inch

$600

Fine Art Drawings, Lemon season I, Karina Lara

Lemon season I

Karina Lara

Fine Art Drawings - 31 x 50 cm Fine Art Drawings - 12.2 x 19.7 inch

$973

17/100