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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Fine Art Drawings, Vertigo, Notseig

Notseig

Fine Art Drawings . 47 x 40 cm Fine Art Drawings . 18.5 x 15.7 inch

€1,350

Photography, Nascar, Christie Goodwin

Christie Goodwin

Photography . 30 x 40 x 0.5 cm Photography . 11.8 x 15.7 x 0.2 inch

€400

Sculpture, Pas 02.23, Yves Tilly

Yves Tilly

Sculpture . 34 x 12 x 7 cm Sculpture . 13.4 x 4.7 x 2.8 inch

€1,400

Painting, Imbrications, Sophie Hors

Sophie Hors

Painting . 47 x 37 x 3 cm Painting . 18.5 x 14.6 x 1.2 inch

€900

Painting, Demi lune, Paul Mathey

Paul Mathey

Painting . 30 x 22.5 x 0.3 cm Painting . 11.8 x 8.9 x 0.1 inch

€906

Painting, Untitled, Ferran Roca Bon

Ferran Roca Bon

Painting . 35 x 50 cm Painting . 13.8 x 19.7 inch

€900

Print, Untitled, Joan Cots

Joan Cots

Print . 49.5 x 38 cm Print . 19.5 x 15 inch

€222

Photography, Luminescence, Martin Kallay

Martin Kallay

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

€1,200

Photography, Spring, Mario Tarantino

Mario Tarantino

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

€540

Sculpture, Vejer, Manon Oller

Manon Oller

Sculpture . 38 x 23 x 11 cm Sculpture . 15 x 9.1 x 4.3 inch

€700

Painting, Winter City, Klimenko Olena

Klimenko Olena

Painting . 40 x 30 x 2 cm Painting . 15.7 x 11.8 x 0.8 inch

€500

Print, Untitled, Vicent Ferrer

Vicent Ferrer

Print . 45 x 32 cm Print . 17.7 x 12.6 inch

€300

Print, Chrayscler, Fifo Stricker

Fifo Stricker

Print . 49.5 x 19.5 x 0.1 cm Print . 19.5 x 7.7 x 0 inch

€550

Painting, On the bridge, Galya Popova

Galya Popova

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

€1,600

Photography, The New Thinker, Akabat Str8t

Akabat Str8t

Photography . 30.2 x 20.2 x 0.01 cm Photography . 11.9 x 8 x 0 inch

€350

Fine Art Drawings, Place des Vosges, Pascal Plazanet

Pascal Plazanet

Fine Art Drawings . 29.5 x 36 x 0.1 cm Fine Art Drawings . 11.6 x 14.2 x 0 inch

€1,900

Print, Sea Side, Jason Alexander

Jason Alexander

Print . 40.6 x 30.5 x 5.1 cm Print . 16 x 12 x 2 inch

€723

Fine Art Drawings, XX164175, Pierre Muckensturm

Pierre Muckensturm

Fine Art Drawings . 42 x 29.7 cm Fine Art Drawings . 16.5 x 11.7 inch

€700

Fine Art Drawings, Sans titre, Camille Adra

Camille Adra

Fine Art Drawings . 30 x 40 x 0.2 cm Fine Art Drawings . 11.8 x 15.7 x 0.1 inch

€200

Painting, Winter, Jia Yuan Hua

Jia Yuan Hua

Painting . 29 x 20 x 2 cm Painting . 11.4 x 7.9 x 0.8 inch

€1,400

Photography, Appolon Square, Idan Wizen

Idan Wizen

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

€300

Painting, Pick me up, Nina Fedotova

Nina Fedotova

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

€400

Photography, Brooklyn Bridge, Rodrigo

Rodrigo

Photography . 35.6 x 23.7 x 0.1 cm Photography . 14 x 9.3 x 0 inch

€1,999

Painting, Untitled, Mauro Bellucci

Mauro Bellucci

Painting . 50 x 50 x 0.1 cm Painting . 19.7 x 19.7 x 0 inch

€1,000

Fine Art Drawings, Bravo, Esther Blanchot

Esther Blanchot

Fine Art Drawings . 30 x 21 cm Fine Art Drawings . 11.8 x 8.3 inch

€450

Painting, Beautiful Snow, Jia Yuan Hua

Jia Yuan Hua

Painting . 30 x 40 x 2 cm Painting . 11.8 x 15.7 x 0.8 inch

€1,600

Painting, Room 2, Tamta Chachanidze

Tamta Chachanidze

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

€800

Print, Untitled, Franco Fortunato

Franco Fortunato

Print . 35 x 50 x 0.1 cm Print . 13.8 x 19.7 x 0 inch

€240