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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Sculpture, Pebbles, Viktor Zuk

Viktor Zuk

Sculpture . 28 x 16 x 7.5 cm Sculpture . 11 x 6.3 x 3 inch

€380

Painting, Happy, MrHope

MrHope

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

€210

Painting, Volant, Mike Ellis

Mike Ellis

Painting . 50 x 50 x 5 cm Painting . 19.7 x 19.7 x 2 inch

€1,440

Sculpture, Scrap Bird II, ByLuka

ByLuka

Sculpture . 35 x 25 x 15 cm Sculpture . 13.8 x 9.8 x 5.9 inch

€1,180

Painting, Sans, Matthieu Fappani

Matthieu Fappani

Painting . 29 x 29 x 3 cm Painting . 11.4 x 11.4 x 1.2 inch

€400

Sculpture, Two birds, Milko Dobrev

Milko Dobrev

Sculpture . 37 x 11 x 7 cm Sculpture . 14.6 x 4.3 x 2.8 inch

€1,950

Painting, Sans titre, Ceet Fouad

Ceet Fouad

Painting . 48 x 39 x 0.3 cm Painting . 18.9 x 15.4 x 0.1 inch

€1,600

Painting, Free as a bird, Dr. Love

Dr. Love

Painting . 40 x 30 x 0.2 cm Painting . 15.7 x 11.8 x 0.1 inch

€50

Sculpture, Bird, Milko Dobrev

Milko Dobrev

Sculpture . 43 x 8 x 7 cm Sculpture . 16.9 x 3.1 x 2.8 inch

€1,650

Painting, The Pair, Abgar Khachatryan

Abgar Khachatryan

Painting . 30 x 24 x 2 cm Painting . 11.8 x 9.4 x 0.8 inch

€273

Sculpture, Scrap Bird I, ByLuka

ByLuka

Sculpture . 50 x 45 x 25 cm Sculpture . 19.7 x 17.7 x 9.8 inch

€1,180

Painting, Where Am I ?, Mickey Bond

Mickey Bond

Painting . 22.9 x 30.5 x 3.8 cm Painting . 9 x 12 x 1.5 inch

€273

Fine Art Drawings, L'oiseau bleu, Maï

Maï

Fine Art Drawings . 42 x 29.7 x 0.1 cm Fine Art Drawings . 16.5 x 11.7 x 0 inch

€500

Painting, Sweet Heart, Dorit Levi

Dorit Levi

Painting . 35 x 35 x 0.5 cm Painting . 13.8 x 13.8 x 0.2 inch

€2,181

Print, Birds, Anna Mikke

Anna Mikke

Print . 15.5 x 29 cm Print . 6.1 x 11.4 inch

€150

Painting, Picaflor 105, Keng Wai Lee

Keng Wai Lee

Painting . 30 x 30 x 5 cm Painting . 11.8 x 11.8 x 2 inch

€540

Sculpture, Envol V, Pierre Yermia

Pierre Yermia

Sculpture . 37 x 33 x 26 cm Sculpture . 14.6 x 13 x 10.2 inch

€3,000

Painting, Birds, Juffrouw Springtouw

Juffrouw Springtouw

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

€950

Painting, Vivid, Dorit Levi

Dorit Levi

Painting . 35 x 35 x 0.5 cm Painting . 13.8 x 13.8 x 0.2 inch

€2,181

Sculpture, Dodo 2, Denis Lepage

Denis Lepage

Sculpture . 43 x 33 x 20 cm Sculpture . 16.9 x 13 x 7.9 inch

€3,500

Painting, Picaflor 103, Keng Wai Lee

Keng Wai Lee

Painting . 30 x 30 x 5 cm Painting . 11.8 x 11.8 x 2 inch

€540

Painting, Homeland, Rolanda Jongerius

Rolanda Jongerius

Painting . 30 x 21 x 3 cm Painting . 11.8 x 8.3 x 1.2 inch

€1,000

Painting, With Love, Dorit Levi

Dorit Levi

Painting . 50 x 35 x 0.5 cm Painting . 19.7 x 13.8 x 0.2 inch

€2,363

Painting, Picaflor 105, Keng Wai Lee

Keng Wai Lee

Painting . 30 x 30 x 5 cm Painting . 11.8 x 11.8 x 2 inch

€540

Painting, Envol, Marta Grassi

Marta Grassi

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

€880

Fine Art Drawings, A Bird's Angel, Alla Kechedzhan

Alla Kechedzhan

Fine Art Drawings . 40 x 30 x 0.3 cm Fine Art Drawings . 15.7 x 11.8 x 0.1 inch

€3,500

Painting, Le guépard, Joëlle Darmon

Joëlle Darmon

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

€1,290

Painting, Picaflor 106, Keng Wai Lee

Keng Wai Lee

Painting . 30 x 30 x 5 cm Painting . 11.8 x 11.8 x 2 inch

€540

Painting, Seagulls, Olga Ponomarenko

Olga Ponomarenko

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

€1,181