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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Photography, Ensayo, James Sparshatt

Ensayo

James Sparshatt

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

$1,123 $1,012

Painting, Champs, Sophie Dumont

Champs

Sophie Dumont

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

$1,281

Painting, Pistacchio Sun, tizlu

Pistacchio Sun

tizlu

Painting - 50 x 20 x 2.5 cm Painting - 19.7 x 7.9 x 1 inch

$1,305

Fine Art Drawings, Théorèmes #1, Nagsoul

Théorèmes #1

Nagsoul

Fine Art Drawings - 22 x 32 x 0.1 cm Fine Art Drawings - 8.7 x 12.6 x 0 inch

$949

Fine Art Drawings, Résistant, Baptiste Laurent

Résistant

Baptiste Laurent

Fine Art Drawings - 50 x 35 x 0.3 cm Fine Art Drawings - 19.7 x 13.8 x 0.1 inch

$1,305

Painting, Paysage chinois 11, Xiu

Paysage chinois 11

Xiu

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

$712 $641

Painting, Lotus, Cécile Girard

Lotus

Cécile Girard

Painting - 43 x 43 x 1 cm Painting - 16.9 x 16.9 x 0.4 inch

$949

Photography, Autoportrait II, Feng Hatat

Autoportrait II

Feng Hatat

Photography - 50 x 35 x 2 cm Photography - 19.7 x 13.8 x 0.8 inch

$712

Painting, Landscape 88, Li Dongfeng

Landscape 88

Li Dongfeng

Painting - 49 x 49 x 1 cm Painting - 19.3 x 19.3 x 0.4 inch

$830 $747

Photography, Ciel 12, Feng Hatat

Ciel 12

Feng Hatat

Photography - 35 x 50 x 2 cm Photography - 13.8 x 19.7 x 0.8 inch

$712

Photography, Solitude, Feng Hatat

Solitude

Feng Hatat

Photography - 30 x 45 x 1 cm Photography - 11.8 x 17.7 x 0.4 inch

$712

Photography, Tunnel, Feng Hatat

Tunnel

Feng Hatat

Photography - 30 x 45 x 1 cm Photography - 11.8 x 17.7 x 0.4 inch

$712

Photography, Ciel 5, Feng Hatat

Ciel 5

Feng Hatat

Photography - 35 x 50 x 2 cm Photography - 13.8 x 19.7 x 0.8 inch

$712

Painting, Paysage chinois, Xiu

Paysage chinois

Xiu

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

$712 $641

Fine Art Drawings, Deconstruction, Nagsoul

Deconstruction

Nagsoul

Fine Art Drawings - 26 x 36 x 3 cm Fine Art Drawings - 10.2 x 14.2 x 1.2 inch

$593

Fine Art Drawings, Coastal burn, Nagsoul

Coastal burn

Nagsoul

Fine Art Drawings - 42 x 30 cm Fine Art Drawings - 16.5 x 11.8 inch

$712

Painting, Grimpette, Arsen

Grimpette

Arsen

Painting - 34 x 20 x 2 cm Painting - 13.4 x 7.9 x 0.8 inch

$617

Sculpture, Thoughts, Karen Akhikyan

Thoughts

Karen Akhikyan

Sculpture - 31 x 15 x 16 cm Sculpture - 12.2 x 5.9 x 6.3 inch

$1,350

Photography, Ali II, Gerry Cranham

Ali II

Gerry Cranham

Photography - 30 x 45 x 0.1 cm Photography - 11.8 x 17.7 x 0 inch

$913

Fine Art Drawings, Projet pour Hennessy, JonOne

Projet pour Hennessy

JonOne

Fine Art Drawings - 30 x 42 x 0.1 cm Fine Art Drawings - 11.8 x 16.5 x 0 inch

$2,373

Sculpture, Teddy Dior, Naor

Teddy Dior

Naor

Sculpture - 35 x 30 x 20 cm Sculpture - 13.8 x 11.8 x 7.9 inch

$1,186

Painting, Emotion, Sandrine Hirson

Emotion

Sandrine Hirson

Painting - 27 x 35 x 2 cm Painting - 10.6 x 13.8 x 0.8 inch

$427

Painting, Daydream, Mariah Birsak

Daydream

Mariah Birsak

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

$890 $801

Photography, Arcoíris, Rodrigo

Arcoíris

Rodrigo

Photography - 32.3 x 43.1 x 0.1 cm Photography - 12.7 x 17 x 0 inch

$2,371

Photography, Danse, Feng Hatat

Danse

Feng Hatat

Photography - 30 x 45 x 1 cm Photography - 11.8 x 17.7 x 0.4 inch

$712

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