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, We come in peace, Hico

We come in peace

Hico

Painting - 20.3 x 30.5 x 0.3 cm Painting - 8 x 12 x 0.1 inch

$1,431

Fine Art Drawings, Trees, André Roland Brudieux

Trees

André Roland Brudieux

Fine Art Drawings - 37.5 x 32.5 x 0.1 cm Fine Art Drawings - 14.8 x 12.8 x 0 inch

$656

Fine Art Drawings, TINI, Ezekiel Messou

TINI

Ezekiel Messou

Fine Art Drawings - 29.7 x 21 cm Fine Art Drawings - 11.7 x 8.3 inch

$715

Painting, Pink Monroe, Bubble

Pink Monroe

Bubble

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

$703 $633

Painting, 010 Leta, Allison M. Low

010 Leta

Allison M. Low

Painting - 26 x 18 x 0.5 cm Painting - 10.2 x 7.1 x 0.2 inch

$954

Painting, Climb a Dream, Akio Harada

Climb a Dream

Akio Harada

Painting - 40.6 x 40.6 x 3.8 cm Painting - 16 x 16 x 1.5 inch

$1,907

Painting, Léa, Ariane Fourquier

Léa

Ariane Fourquier

Painting - 32 x 25.9 x 0.3 cm Painting - 12.6 x 10.2 x 0.1 inch

$616

Painting, Untitled, Filippo Sacca

Untitled

Filippo Sacca

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

$954

Print, Mamane, Vasil Angelov

Mamane

Vasil Angelov

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

$900

Fine Art Drawings, Untitled, Dev

Untitled

Dev

Fine Art Drawings - 37 x 38 x 0.1 cm Fine Art Drawings - 14.6 x 15 x 0 inch

$894

Painting, Cascade #2, Jade R.

Cascade #2

Jade R.

Painting - 46 x 38 cm Painting - 18.1 x 15 inch

$596

Fine Art Drawings, Ecoute II, Bze Bzeland

Ecoute II

Bze Bzeland

Fine Art Drawings - 48.3 x 32.9 x 0.1 cm Fine Art Drawings - 19 x 13 x 0 inch

$238

Painting, Cool, Kim Jandi

Cool

Kim Jandi

Painting - 38 x 46 x 2 cm Painting - 15 x 18.1 x 0.8 inch

$834

Painting, Olivos, Joan Copons

Olivos

Joan Copons

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

$751

Fine Art Drawings, Stanza metafisica, Dr. Love

Stanza metafisica

Dr. Love

Fine Art Drawings - 39 x 27 x 0.4 cm Fine Art Drawings - 15.4 x 10.6 x 0.2 inch

$107

Painting, Les annexes, Marc Proust

Les annexes

Marc Proust

Painting - 28 x 28 x 2 cm Painting - 11 x 11 x 0.8 inch

$1,013

Photography, Venus, Tyler Shields

Venus

Tyler Shields

Photography - 45.7 x 45.7 cm Photography - 18 x 18 inch

$2,500

Sculpture, Flamenco, Michèle Chast

Flamenco

Michèle Chast

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

$5,365

Painting, My Stomach, Keziat

My Stomach

Keziat

Painting - 40 x 40 x 0.1 cm Painting - 15.7 x 15.7 x 0 inch

$834

Painting, Untitled, Mauro Bellucci

Untitled

Mauro Bellucci

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

$1,192

Painting, Pink Horse, Su Bin Lim

Pink Horse

Su Bin Lim

Painting - 40.9 x 27.3 x 3 cm Painting - 16.1 x 10.7 x 1.2 inch

$882

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

$775

Painting, Port, Joaquin Cabane

Port

Joaquin Cabane

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

$1,371

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

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

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