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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Photography, Illusion, Tanguy Mendrisse

Tanguy Mendrisse

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

€160

Photography, Tracks II, Bruno Charoy

Bruno Charoy

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

€800

Photography, Entrelazar 202, Javier Rey

Javier Rey

Photography . 50 x 39 x 0.3 cm Photography . 19.7 x 15.4 x 0.1 inch

€813

Photography, ?-13052024, Songlin Ji

Songlin Ji

Photography . 20 x 30 x 0.4 cm Photography . 7.9 x 11.8 x 0.2 inch

€900

Sculpture, Entrelazar 5, Javier Rey

Javier Rey

Sculpture . 32 x 32 x 8 cm Sculpture . 12.6 x 12.6 x 3.1 inch

€903

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

Photography, Foot de rue, Uwe Ommer

Uwe Ommer

Photography . 40 x 48 x 0.1 cm Photography . 15.7 x 18.9 x 0 inch

€990

Photography, Aftermath, Fiona Tan

Fiona Tan

Photography . 32.5 x 47.5 x 0.1 cm Photography . 12.8 x 18.7 x 0 inch

€3,000

Photography, Sir Alex, Mark Leech

Mark Leech

Photography . 30 x 45 x 0.1 cm Photography . 11.8 x 17.7 x 0 inch

€700

Photography, Marilyn, Elliott Erwitt

Elliott Erwitt

Photography . 50 x 42 cm Photography . 19.7 x 16.5 inch

€450

Photography, Mandala 8A, Emma Anna

Emma Anna

Photography . 49.5 x 49.5 x 0.3 cm Photography . 19.5 x 19.5 x 0.1 inch

€813

Photography, Units, Eduardo Rezende

Eduardo Rezende

Photography . 45 x 30 x 0.3 cm Photography . 17.7 x 11.8 x 0.1 inch

€1,355

Photography, Iceland Poppy, Mark Arbeit

Mark Arbeit

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

€1,988

Photography, Tracks VI, Bruno Charoy

Bruno Charoy

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

€800

Photography, Intervals 2., Petr Strnad

Petr Strnad

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

€320

Print, Tigger on Zoloft, Ben Frost

Ben Frost

Print . 30.5 x 30.5 x 0.1 cm Print . 12 x 12 x 0 inch

€700

Photography, 12102010-13052024, Songlin Ji

Songlin Ji

Photography . 30 x 20 x 0.4 cm Photography . 11.8 x 7.9 x 0.2 inch

€900

Photography, JM.Flower Power, Julie Mechali

Julie Mechali

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

€7,700

Photography, Jagger 1965, John Rowlands

John Rowlands

Photography . 50.8 x 40.6 x 5.1 cm Photography . 20 x 16 x 2 inch

€1,220

Photography, 55, Corinne Dubreuil

55

Corinne Dubreuil

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

€800

Photography, Impermanence, Michaela Haider

Michaela Haider

Photography . 49.8 x 49.8 x 0.3 cm Photography . 19.6 x 19.6 x 0.1 inch

€903

Photography, 1/The magician, Emma Anna

Emma Anna

Photography . 39.4 x 26.7 x 0.3 cm Photography . 15.5 x 10.5 x 0.1 inch

€813

Photography, Tracks V, Bruno Charoy

Bruno Charoy

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

€800

Photography, House in Mud, Santiago Sierra

Santiago Sierra

Photography . 21 x 30 x 1.5 cm Photography . 8.3 x 11.8 x 0.6 inch

€5,000

Photography, 20112011-13052024, Songlin Ji

Songlin Ji

Photography . 20 x 30 x 0.4 cm Photography . 7.9 x 11.8 x 0.2 inch

€900

Photography, Poolside Ladies, Slim Aarons

Slim Aarons

Photography . 31 x 41 cm Photography . 12.2 x 16.1 inch

€2,050

Photography, Brian Jones, John Rowlands

John Rowlands

Photography . 50.8 x 40.6 x 5.1 cm Photography . 20 x 16 x 2 inch

€1,220

Photography, In flight I, Frank Williams

Frank Williams

Photography . 30 x 30 x 0.2 cm Photography . 11.8 x 11.8 x 0.1 inch

€300

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

Photography, Intervals 3., Petr Strnad

Petr Strnad

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

€320