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 3, Sara Chaar

Sara Chaar

Painting . 42 x 30 cm Painting . 16.5 x 11.8 inch

€768

Painting, Boussole, Jonathan Pradillon

Jonathan Pradillon

Painting . 21 x 26 x 0.1 cm Painting . 8.3 x 10.2 x 0 inch

€100

Painting, Emprise, Jonathan Pradillon

Jonathan Pradillon

Painting . 24 x 35 x 0.4 cm Painting . 9.4 x 13.8 x 0.2 inch

€160

Painting, Rayon, Jonathan Pradillon

Jonathan Pradillon

Painting . 38 x 46 x 0.1 cm Painting . 15 x 18.1 x 0 inch

€300

Painting, Earth space V, Jen

Jen

Painting . 50 x 50 x 5 cm Painting . 19.7 x 19.7 x 2 inch

€2,955

Fine Art Drawings, Escenario 5, Carlos Velilla

Carlos Velilla

Fine Art Drawings . 46 x 36 x 0.1 cm Fine Art Drawings . 18.1 x 14.2 x 0 inch

€1,400

Sculpture, 2M20, Fanfan

Fanfan

Sculpture . 45 x 10 x 10 cm Sculpture . 17.7 x 3.9 x 3.9 inch

€3,000

Sculpture, ZAP, Scott Troxel

ZAP

Scott Troxel

Sculpture . 40.6 x 38.1 x 5.7 cm Sculpture . 16 x 15 x 2.25 inch

€1,900

Painting, 11-2021, Angel De la Peña

Angel De la Peña

Painting . 30 x 30 x 1 cm Painting . 11.8 x 11.8 x 0.4 inch

€1,500

Painting, Untitled, Joaquim Falcó

Joaquim Falcó

Painting . 27 x 35 cm Painting . 10.6 x 13.8 inch

€1,200

Painting, Wind, Tinatin Bakhtadze

Tinatin Bakhtadze

Painting . 50 x 50 x 3 cm Painting . 19.7 x 19.7 x 1.2 inch

€950

Photography, Sea I, Sven Pfrommer

Sven Pfrommer

Photography . 40 x 40 x 3 cm Photography . 15.7 x 15.7 x 1.2 inch

€690

Painting, Blues, Herman Van Peer

Herman Van Peer

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

€590

Print, B1, Isthme

B1

Isthme

Print . 30 x 40 x 0.4 cm Print . 11.8 x 15.7 x 0.2 inch

€250

Painting, Untitled, Doïna Vieru

Doïna Vieru

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

€800

Painting, Eletor, JaveL Art

JaveL Art

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

€300

Sculpture, Nightfall III, Philip Hearsey

Philip Hearsey

Sculpture . 33 x 26.5 x 18.5 cm Sculpture . 13 x 10.4 x 7.3 inch

€1,809

Painting, Entropy Zone 29., Petr Strnad

Petr Strnad

Painting . 42.2 x 29.5 x 0.1 cm Painting . 16.6 x 11.6 x 0 inch

€330

Painting, The Lungs, Sofiane Benyahia

Sofiane Benyahia

Painting . 22 x 33 x 2 cm Painting . 8.7 x 13 x 0.8 inch

€3,660

Fine Art Drawings, Untitled, Josep Gibernau

Josep Gibernau

Fine Art Drawings . 40 x 32 cm Fine Art Drawings . 15.7 x 12.6 inch

€888

Painting, Untitled, Pietro Beretta

Pietro Beretta

Painting . 40 x 32 x 0.2 cm Painting . 15.7 x 12.6 x 0.1 inch

€750

Painting, Riverside 04, Emma Godebska

Emma Godebska

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

€1,025

Painting, Printemps 11, Xiu

Xiu

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

€600

Fine Art Drawings, Living together, Aline Khieu

Aline Khieu

Fine Art Drawings . 29.8 x 41.8 x 0.1 cm Fine Art Drawings . 11.7 x 16.5 x 0 inch

€500

Print, Untitled, Ramon Canet

Ramon Canet

Print . 22 x 31 x 0.1 cm Print . 8.7 x 12.2 x 0 inch

€300

Painting, Composition 307, Xiu

Xiu

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

€600

Painting, Tumultueux, Steliana Mocanu

Steliana Mocanu

Painting . 32 x 41 x 0.3 cm Painting . 12.6 x 16.1 x 0.1 inch

€350

Painting, C & O Canal, Craig Moran

Craig Moran

Painting . 30.5 x 40.6 x 0.3 cm Painting . 12 x 16 x 0.1 inch

€398

Painting, Static 422, Sia Aryai

Sia Aryai

Painting . 50.8 x 40.6 x 0.5 cm Painting . 20 x 16 x 0.2 inch

€913

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