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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Design, Jade UberKranky, Add Fuel

Jade UberKranky

Add Fuel

Design - 38 x 25.5 x 25 cm Design - 15 x 10 x 9.8 inch

$712 $641

Painting, Sevilla, Claudia Coccina

Sevilla

Claudia Coccina

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

$949

Painting, Automne, Bertrand Henry

Automne

Bertrand Henry

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

$2,610

Painting, San Gohan, Toei Animation

San Gohan

Toei Animation

Painting - 24 x 27 x 1 cm Painting - 9.4 x 10.6 x 0.4 inch

$771

Painting, Golden X, Jules Engel

Golden X

Jules Engel

Painting - 30.5 x 30.5 x 0.3 cm Painting - 12 x 12 x 0.1 inch

$2,500

Painting, Oceano, Roberta Pinna

Oceano

Roberta Pinna

Painting - 30.5 x 20.3 x 0.8 cm Painting - 12 x 8 x 0.3 inch

$1,500

Sculpture, Scie-lames, Patopalomo

Scie-lames

Patopalomo

Sculpture - 37 x 33 x 50 cm Sculpture - 14.6 x 13 x 19.7 inch

$1,068

Painting, The Moment, Nikolett

The Moment

Nikolett

Painting - 30 x 24 x 3 cm Painting - 11.8 x 9.4 x 1.2 inch

$593

Sculpture, Buffle noir, William Byl

Buffle noir

William Byl

Sculpture - 37.5 x 40 x 10 cm Sculpture - 14.8 x 15.7 x 3.9 inch

$2,361

Sculpture, La Nena XS, Idan Zareski

La Nena XS

Idan Zareski

Sculpture - 31 x 27 x 20 cm Sculpture - 12.2 x 10.6 x 7.9 inch

$3,322

Sculpture, Padre, Lisbeth Delisle

Padre

Lisbeth Delisle

Sculpture - 31 x 11.5 x 10 cm Sculpture - 12.2 x 4.5 x 3.9 inch

$3,440

Fine Art Drawings, 12 - Red, Genny Puccini

12 - Red

Genny Puccini

Fine Art Drawings - 50 x 50 x 0.3 cm Fine Art Drawings - 19.7 x 19.7 x 0.1 inch

$759

Fine Art Drawings, Figure, Robert Luis Nicoidski

Figure

Robert Luis Nicoidski

Fine Art Drawings - 29.5 x 17.5 x 0.1 cm Fine Art Drawings - 11.6 x 6.9 x 0 inch

$736

Painting, Woods, Gina Werfel

Woods

Gina Werfel

Painting - 45.7 x 36.8 cm Painting - 18 x 14.5 inch

$1,201

Fine Art Drawings, Sans titre, Serge Charchoune

Sans titre

Serge Charchoune

Fine Art Drawings - 19 x 28.3 x 0.02 cm Fine Art Drawings - 7.5 x 11.1 x 0 inch

$1,068

Painting, Maternité, Maria Vich

Maternité

Maria Vich

Painting - 50 x 35 x 0.05 cm Painting - 19.7 x 13.8 x 0 inch

$1,186

Painting, Uiara, Yamandú Canosa

Uiara

Yamandú Canosa

Painting - 36 x 48 x 0.1 cm Painting - 14.2 x 18.9 x 0 inch

$1,780

Painting, Beach break, Lisa Levina

Beach break

Lisa Levina

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

$740

Sculpture, Pertinance, Casper Versluis

Pertinance

Casper Versluis

Sculpture - 48.5 x 24.5 x 18.5 cm Sculpture - 19.1 x 9.6 x 7.3 inch

$2,135

Fine Art Drawings, La Drôme, Bernard Gantner

La Drôme

Bernard Gantner

Fine Art Drawings - 33 x 23 cm Fine Art Drawings - 13 x 9.1 inch

$475

Painting, Helios II, Mike Ellis

Helios II

Mike Ellis

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

$1,696

Fine Art Drawings, Toxic American, Michael Alan

Toxic American

Michael Alan

Fine Art Drawings - 27.9 x 22.9 x 0.1 cm Fine Art Drawings - 11 x 9 x 0.04 inch

$2,100

Painting, Sans titre, Raoul Hausman

Sans titre

Raoul Hausman

Painting - 38 x 27 x 0.1 cm Painting - 15 x 10.6 x 0 inch

$4,152

Sculpture, Discobole, André Michel

Discobole

André Michel

Sculpture - 28 x 18 x 12 cm Sculpture - 11 x 7.1 x 4.7 inch

$759

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