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, Scène urbaine, Harry Urban

Harry Urban

Painting . 32 x 41.5 x 0.5 cm Painting . 12.6 x 16.3 x 0.2 inch

€962

Painting, Venise, Josselin Bodley

Josselin Bodley

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

€1,143

Photography, HK Flora (1), Camille Levert

Camille Levert

Photography . 47 x 47 x 3 cm Photography . 18.5 x 18.5 x 1.2 inch

€5,500

Painting, Ville rose, Karin Boinet

Karin Boinet

Painting . 32 x 24 x 0.1 cm Painting . 12.6 x 9.4 x 0 inch

€850

Painting, Cafe in France, Lluis Ribas

Lluis Ribas

Painting . 24 x 35 x 2 cm Painting . 9.4 x 13.8 x 0.8 inch

€1,750

Photography, Intervals 1., Petr Strnad

Petr Strnad

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

€320

Painting, The Night, Piotr Fafrowicz

Piotr Fafrowicz

Painting . 36 x 30 x 0.1 cm Painting . 14.2 x 11.8 x 0 inch

€900

Photography, Circus, Katerina Belkina

Katerina Belkina

Photography . 30 x 40 cm Photography . 11.8 x 15.7 inch

€1,807

Painting, Meno Parole, Riccardo Mayr

Riccardo Mayr

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

€800

Print, Naples, Bernard Buffet

Bernard Buffet

Print . 38 x 29 x 3 cm Print . 15 x 11.4 x 1.2 inch

€2,500

Sculpture, Hommage à Eiffel, Arman

Arman

Sculpture . 38 x 24 x 9 cm Sculpture . 15 x 9.4 x 3.5 inch

€7,000

Fine Art Drawings, Venise, Charles Malle

Charles Malle

Fine Art Drawings . 30 x 48 x 0.1 cm Fine Art Drawings . 11.8 x 18.9 x 0 inch

€350

Sculpture, Springboks, Clare McCracken

Clare McCracken

Sculpture . 24 x 31 x 13 cm Sculpture . 9.4 x 12.2 x 5.1 inch

€903

Painting, View of Bass Rock, Mike Hall

Mike Hall

Painting . 37 x 30 x 1 cm Painting . 14.6 x 11.8 x 0.4 inch

€958

Painting, Urban Illusion, GraffMatt

GraffMatt

Painting . 29 x 19 x 0.5 cm Painting . 11.4 x 7.5 x 0.2 inch

€270

Painting, The niche, Aphisit Sidsunthia

Aphisit Sidsunthia

Painting . 41 x 31 x 4 cm Painting . 16.1 x 12.2 x 1.6 inch

€1,280

Painting, H-K Beautiful fake, Meleo

Meleo

Painting . 39 x 29 x 4 cm Painting . 15.4 x 11.4 x 1.6 inch

€950

Painting, South spirit, Pappay

Pappay

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

€880

Painting, It seems Strange., Paul Ward

Paul Ward

Painting . 41.9 x 30.5 x 5.1 cm Painting . 16.5 x 12 x 2 inch

€2,030

Painting, Aldaba, Josefa Sanz del Amo

Josefa Sanz del Amo

Painting . 32.5 x 35 x 0.1 cm Painting . 12.8 x 13.8 x 0 inch

€1,300

Painting, Venice, Lusie Schellenberg

Lusie Schellenberg

Painting . 35 x 45 x 1 cm Painting . 13.8 x 17.7 x 0.4 inch

€900

Sculpture, Large pool, Ramon Enrich

Ramon Enrich

Sculpture . 11 x 49 x 15 cm Sculpture . 4.3 x 19.3 x 5.9 inch

€4,200

Photography, De otra época, Tere Duro

Tere Duro

Photography . 27 x 40 cm Photography . 10.6 x 15.7 inch

€875

Painting, Wintery, Nelli Tsenova

Nelli Tsenova

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

€920

Sculpture, Transplantation 4, VAM

VAM

Sculpture . 35 x 20 x 20 cm Sculpture . 13.8 x 7.9 x 7.9 inch

€1,200

Sculpture, S Portrait, Joël Froment

Joël Froment

Sculpture . 34 x 24 x 4 cm Sculpture . 13.4 x 9.4 x 1.6 inch

€1,400

Photography, Eux deux, Bogdan Kotewicz

Bogdan Kotewicz

Photography . 50 x 50 x 0.3 cm Photography . 19.7 x 19.7 x 0.1 inch

€1,200

Sculpture, Doxa, Jan Wold

Jan Wold

Sculpture . 45 x 45 x 28 cm Sculpture . 17.7 x 17.7 x 11 inch

€3,200

Photography, Tripe 09, Thomas Ruff

Thomas Ruff

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

€2,250 €2,025

Painting, Ville jaune, Karin Boinet

Karin Boinet

Painting . 32 x 24 x 0.1 cm Painting . 12.6 x 9.4 x 0 inch

€850

Print, Escalier B, Thomas Groslier

Thomas Groslier

Print . 42.5 x 22 x 0.2 cm Print . 16.7 x 8.7 x 0.1 inch

€175