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, Vega Mir, Victor Vasarely

Victor Vasarely

Sculpture . 50 x 50 x 7 cm Sculpture . 19.7 x 19.7 x 2.8 inch

€19,000

Print, Figue, André Masson

André Masson

Print . 26 x 19 x 0.1 cm Print . 10.2 x 7.5 x 0 inch

€800

Photography, Le Boudoir, D-A Woisard

D-A Woisard

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

€800

Painting, Blow, Fabien Verschaere

Fabien Verschaere

Painting . 40 x 29.7 cm Painting . 15.7 x 11.7 inch

€850

Photography, Simiana, Francesco Mussida

Francesco Mussida

Photography . 50 x 40 x 0.3 cm Photography . 19.7 x 15.7 x 0.1 inch

€890

Painting, Frente a ti, Laura Vaillant

Laura Vaillant

Painting . 42 x 30 x 1 cm Painting . 16.5 x 11.8 x 0.4 inch

€1,000

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, Solitude, Feng Hatat

Feng Hatat

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

€600

Photography, Abstinence, Rodolfo Franchi

Rodolfo Franchi

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

€560

Photography, Barman danseur, Arnaud Baumann

Arnaud Baumann

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

€950

Photography, Le plongeon, Franck Pourcel

Franck Pourcel

Photography . 24 x 30 cm Photography . 9.4 x 11.8 inch

€500

Photography, Mostar Bridge, Ludovic Careme

Ludovic Careme

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

€1,350

Photography, lnvolucruM, Louis Blanc

Louis Blanc

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

€900

Photography, Family, Ali Buhamad

Ali Buhamad

Photography . 40 x 30 x 5 cm Photography . 15.7 x 11.8 x 2 inch

€1,000

Photography, 26. Untitled, Larry Clark

Larry Clark

Photography . 19 x 28 x 0.1 cm Photography . 7.5 x 11 x 0 inch

€800

Photography, Men Working, Ken Heyman

Ken Heyman

Photography . 27.9 x 35.6 x 1.3 cm Photography . 11 x 14 x 0.5 inch

€4,333

Photography, Mid Point 2, Tenesh Webber

Tenesh Webber

Photography . 28 x 28 cm Photography . 11 x 11 inch

€2,415

Print, Faces 1 & 2, Hush

Hush

Print . 30 x 46 cm Print . 11.8 x 18.1 inch

€839

Photography, Marc Chagall, Denise Colomb

Denise Colomb

Photography . 29 x 24 x 1 cm Photography . 11.4 x 9.4 x 0.4 inch

€990

Photography, Lamb I, Laurent Gudin

Laurent Gudin

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

€1,100

Photography, Te veo, James Sparshatt

James Sparshatt

Photography . 35 x 35 x 1 cm Photography . 13.8 x 13.8 x 0.4 inch

€960 €865

Photography, Black Hand, Léa Bon

Léa Bon

Photography . 30.5 x 46.2 x 0.3 cm Photography . 12 x 18.2 x 0.1 inch

€1,625

Sculpture, In the water No 1, Pamela See

Pamela See

Sculpture . 35 x 19 x 17 cm Sculpture . 13.8 x 7.5 x 6.7 inch

€1,500

Photography, Untitled, Chema Madoz

Chema Madoz

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

€3,150

Photography, Pesadumbre, Martí Sala

Martí Sala

Photography . 30 x 40 x 1 cm Photography . 11.8 x 15.7 x 0.4 inch

€900

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, L'Arbre flamme, Sophie Mabille

Sophie Mabille

Photography . 30.5 x 46 x 0.1 cm Photography . 12 x 18.1 x 0 inch

€850

Photography, Couple Embrace, Tony Potts

Tony Potts

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

€1,715

Photography, Children’s, Bridgeman

Bridgeman

Photography . 30 x 24 x 0.1 cm Photography . 11.8 x 9.4 x 0 inch

€240

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, Revenir..., D-A Woisard

D-A Woisard

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

€800

Photography, Iggy Pop, Yannick Saillet

Yannick Saillet

Photography . 30 x 30 cm Photography . 11.8 x 11.8 inch

€1,700

Photography, Mandy Smith, Pierre Terrasson

Pierre Terrasson

Photography . 40 x 50 x 0.1 cm Photography . 15.7 x 19.7 x 0 inch

€1,500

Photography, Surreal Cemetery, Ken Heyman

Ken Heyman

Photography . 27.9 x 35.6 x 1.3 cm Photography . 11 x 14 x 0.5 inch

€4,333

Fine Art Drawings, Secret Invasion, Lenil Yu

Lenil Yu

Fine Art Drawings . 44 x 28 x 1 cm Fine Art Drawings . 17.3 x 11 x 0.4 inch

€2,600

Photography, Rising Tide, Heikki Willamo

Heikki Willamo

Photography . 33 x 50 x 1 cm Photography . 13 x 19.7 x 0.4 inch

€3,300

Photography, Marilyn, Elliott Erwitt

Elliott Erwitt

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

€450

Photography, Muhammad Ali, Flip Schulke

Flip Schulke

Photography . 40 x 30 x 1 cm Photography . 15.7 x 11.8 x 0.4 inch

€7,500

Photography, Vigilant, Monica Denevan

Monica Denevan

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

€1,630

Print, Black Flag, Santiago Sierra

Santiago Sierra

Print . 31 x 31.5 x 0.4 cm Print . 12.2 x 12.4 x 0.2 inch

€6,000