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, Sans Titre 1, Helder Batista

Helder Batista

Painting . 48 x 38 x 1 cm Painting . 18.9 x 15 x 0.4 inch

€1,250

Painting, Untitled I, Antoni Clavé

Antoni Clavé

Painting . 50 x 30 x 2 cm Painting . 19.7 x 11.8 x 0.8 inch

€1,600

Painting, Chameleon, Craig Moran

Craig Moran

Painting . 35.6 x 45.7 x 2.5 cm Painting . 14 x 18 x 1 inch

€960

Painting, Tui, Irina Sazonova

Tui

Irina Sazonova

Painting . 50 x 50 x 3.5 cm Painting . 19.7 x 19.7 x 1.4 inch

€1,345

Fine Art Drawings, Movement 5, Galina Gataullina

Galina Gataullina

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

€448

Painting, Candy Girl, Jean-Luc Almond

Jean-Luc Almond

Painting . 30 x 20 x 1 cm Painting . 11.8 x 7.9 x 0.4 inch

€1,180

Painting, Empowerment, Carmen Torres

Carmen Torres

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

€650

Painting, Sans titre, Esmaël Bahrani

Esmaël Bahrani

Painting . 40 x 30 x 0.1 cm Painting . 15.7 x 11.8 x 0 inch

€1,100

Fine Art Drawings, Residium 1, Veronika Obushikhina

Veronika Obushikhina

Fine Art Drawings . 31 x 23 x 0.1 cm Fine Art Drawings . 12.2 x 9.1 x 0 inch

€314

Fine Art Drawings, Part of the sea, Olga Afanasiadi

Olga Afanasiadi

Fine Art Drawings . 40 x 30 x 0.1 cm Fine Art Drawings . 15.7 x 11.8 x 0 inch

€404

Painting, NotWithstanding, Kris Haas

Kris Haas

Painting . 50.8 x 40.6 x 2 cm Painting . 20 x 16 x 0.8 inch

€910

Painting, Poligon 04, Simone De Rosa

Simone De Rosa

Painting . 30 x 30 x 2 cm Painting . 11.8 x 11.8 x 0.8 inch

€180

Painting, Lilo, Irina Sazonova

Irina Sazonova

Painting . 40 x 40 x 3.5 cm Painting . 15.7 x 15.7 x 1.4 inch

€897

Painting, N/A, Pilar Xercavins Casas

N/A

Pilar Xercavins Casas

Painting . 46 x 38 x 3 cm Painting . 18.1 x 15 x 1.2 inch

€2,400

Painting, Seaward, Susan C

Susan C

Painting . 44.5 x 44.5 x 3 cm Painting . 17.5 x 17.5 x 1.2 inch

€1,006

Painting, H2#2023, Stephan Laplanche

Stephan Laplanche

Painting . 33 x 24 x 2 cm Painting . 13 x 9.4 x 0.8 inch

€1,200

Painting, Days Eye, Sam Soles

Sam Soles

Painting . 50.8 x 38.1 x 2.5 cm Painting . 20 x 15 x 1 inch

€1,100

Painting, Groundswell, Matthew Dibble

Matthew Dibble

Painting . 38.1 x 30.5 x 2.5 cm Painting . 15 x 12 x 1 inch

€1,570

Painting, Greenwood, Geoff Howard

Geoff Howard

Painting . 30 x 39.9 x 0.3 cm Painting . 11.8 x 15.7 x 0.1 inch

€1,198

Painting, Conscience, Ana Costov

Ana Costov

Painting . 50 x 39.9 x 3 cm Painting . 19.7 x 15.7 x 1.2 inch

€1,301

Painting, Spring lines, Alina Chalaya

Alina Chalaya

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

€224

Painting, Sea foam 7, Anna Peserico

Anna Peserico

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

€900

Painting, Study 232, Barbara McGivern

Barbara McGivern

Painting . 31 x 31 x 3 cm Painting . 12.2 x 12.2 x 1.2 inch

€1,200

Sculpture, Bivalve rosa, Iginio Iurilli

Iginio Iurilli

Sculpture . 16.5 x 47 x 55 cm Sculpture . 6.5 x 18.5 x 21.7 inch

€950

Painting, Diary Notes, Trude Viken

Trude Viken

Painting . 29.845 x 22.86 x 2 cm Painting . 11.8 x 9 x 0.8 inch

€4,485

Painting, Still Life, Paul Nicholls

Paul Nicholls

Painting . 50 x 40 x 1 cm Painting . 19.7 x 15.7 x 0.4 inch

€1,200

Painting, Esfumato, Rosa Cruz

Rosa Cruz

Painting . 22 x 30 x 0.3 cm Painting . 8.7 x 11.8 x 0.1 inch

€500

Painting, Hoopoe, Irina Sazonova

Irina Sazonova

Painting . 40 x 40 x 3.5 cm Painting . 15.7 x 15.7 x 1.4 inch

€897

Painting, H3#2023, Stephan Laplanche

Stephan Laplanche

Painting . 33 x 24 x 2 cm Painting . 13 x 9.4 x 0.8 inch

€1,200

Painting, Composition, Jean Signovert

Jean Signovert

Painting . 35 x 26 x 0.1 cm Painting . 13.8 x 10.2 x 0 inch

€1,250

Painting, Sea foam 6, Anna Peserico

Anna Peserico

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

€900

Painting, Violatte viloes, Tanya Silva

Tanya Silva

Painting . 30 x 30 x 4 cm Painting . 11.8 x 11.8 x 1.6 inch

€750