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, Ohne Titel, Gerd Kanz

Gerd Kanz

Painting . 39 x 25 x 2 cm Painting . 15.4 x 9.8 x 0.8 inch

€1,000

Painting, Shiko 11, Kojun

Kojun

Painting . 30.5 x 21 x 8 cm Painting . 12 x 8.3 x 3.1 inch

€1,900

Painting, Spark #18, Holly Miller

Holly Miller

Painting . 30.5 x 23 x 0.1 cm Painting . 12 x 9.1 x 0 inch

€1,084

Painting, Tragicomedy, Niki Singleton

Niki Singleton

Painting . 40.64 x 30.48 x 2 cm Painting . 16 x 12 x 0.8 inch

€2,533

Painting, Composition, Roberto Crippa

Roberto Crippa

Painting . 46 x 46 x 0.2 cm Painting . 18.1 x 18.1 x 0.1 inch

€6,400

Fine Art Drawings, Untitled (137.13), Tilman

Tilman

Fine Art Drawings . 35.5 x 28 cm Fine Art Drawings . 14 x 11 inch

€904

Print, 221215, Wang Guangle

Wang Guangle

Print . 49 x 38 x 2 cm Print . 19.3 x 15 x 0.8 inch

€7,500

Sculpture, Entrelacs XL, Pascale Morin

Pascale Morin

Sculpture . 33 x 30 x 5 cm Sculpture . 13 x 11.8 x 2 inch

€2,100

Sculpture, Rugged Strength, Kamo Aloyan

Kamo Aloyan

Sculpture . 40 x 15 x 10 cm Sculpture . 15.7 x 5.9 x 3.9 inch

€2,439

Fine Art Drawings, Broken Button, Claes Oldenburg

Claes Oldenburg

Fine Art Drawings . 41 x 36 x 16 cm Fine Art Drawings . 16.1 x 14.2 x 6.3 inch

€18,522

Painting, Sans titre, Dominique Fury

Dominique Fury

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

€1,200

Painting, Brou, Giuseppe Amadio

Giuseppe Amadio

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

€1,400

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, Be Shrewd, Young Bin Choi

Young Bin Choi

Painting . 45 x 37.5 cm Painting . 17.7 x 14.8 inch

€1,000

Fine Art Drawings, Untitled, Magda Bolumar

Magda Bolumar

Fine Art Drawings . 26.5 x 35 x 0.1 cm Fine Art Drawings . 10.4 x 13.8 x 0 inch

€3,000

Sculpture, Deidad oferente, Paco Corell

Paco Corell

Sculpture . 43 x 21 x 12 cm Sculpture . 16.9 x 8.3 x 4.7 inch

€900

Painting, Kissed by Sun, Greta Olivas

Greta Olivas

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

€1,500

Painting, Macarons, Marie Caviale

Marie Caviale

Painting . 30 x 21 x 0.1 cm Painting . 11.8 x 8.3 x 0 inch

€1,200

Painting, Pergamino 1, Marlande

Marlande

Painting . 46 x 35.5 x 1.1 cm Painting . 18.1 x 14 x 0.4 inch

€2,450

Sculpture, Abstract apple, Ghost Art

Ghost Art

Sculpture . 40 x 45 x 45 cm Sculpture . 15.7 x 17.7 x 17.7 inch

€2,600

Fine Art Drawings, B241, Tarek Butayhi

Tarek Butayhi

Fine Art Drawings . 50 x 50 x 1 cm Fine Art Drawings . 19.7 x 19.7 x 0.4 inch

€900

Painting, Magic, Howard Brotman

Howard Brotman

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

€2,778

Painting, Putzen, Wolfgang Leber

Wolfgang Leber

Painting . 30 x 20 x 0.2 cm Painting . 11.8 x 7.9 x 0.1 inch

€900

Print, Sans titre, Ian Tyson

Ian Tyson

Print . 32 x 32 cm Print . 12.6 x 12.6 inch

€200

Print, Sans-titre, Nelly Rudin

Nelly Rudin

Print . 32 x 32 cm Print . 12.6 x 12.6 inch

€250

Print, Sans-titre, Rita Ernst

Rita Ernst

Print . 32 x 32 cm Print . 12.6 x 12.6 inch

€200

Print, Sans-Titre, Frank Badur

Frank Badur

Print . 32 x 32 cm Print . 12.6 x 12.6 inch

€200

Fine Art Drawings, Sans titre, Rosemarie Koczy

Rosemarie Koczy

Fine Art Drawings . 42 x 34 cm Fine Art Drawings . 16.5 x 13.4 inch

€1,500

Print, Untitled, Jacques Doucet

Jacques Doucet

Print . 32 x 24.5 x 0.5 cm Print . 12.6 x 9.6 x 0.2 inch

€600

Painting, Sven  X 208/250, Sven

Sven

Painting . 30 x 14.5 x 2 cm Painting . 11.8 x 5.7 x 0.8 inch

€680

22/100