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, Neorupestres, Martí Sala

Martí Sala

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

€800

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

Photography, Contemplation, Mourad Cherifi

Mourad Cherifi

Photography . 30 x 45 x 0.02 cm Photography . 11.8 x 17.7 x 0 inch

€450

Painting, Code 1956, Thierry Carrier

Thierry Carrier

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

€1,800

Photography, Units, Eduardo Rezende

Eduardo Rezende

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

€1,354

Photography, Iceland Poppy, Mark Arbeit

Mark Arbeit

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

€1,986

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

Fine Art Drawings, Asfixia, Vermibus

Vermibus

Fine Art Drawings . 35.5 x 28 x 0.5 cm Fine Art Drawings . 14 x 11 x 0.2 inch

€900

Photography, Manufactura 9, Oriol Texidor

Oriol Texidor

Photography . 40 x 50 x 7 cm Photography . 15.7 x 19.7 x 2.8 inch

€1,260

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

Photography, La Dispute, D-A Woisard

D-A Woisard

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

€800

Photography, Folium 3, Francesco Mussida

Francesco Mussida

Photography . 46 x 30.5 x 0.3 cm Photography . 18.1 x 12 x 0.1 inch

€1,300

Fine Art Drawings, Amazing Spiderman, Mike McKone

Mike McKone

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

€2,200

Fine Art Drawings, Ma petite, Miquel Wert

Miquel Wert

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

€1,150

Photography, Memories I, Victoria Dearing

Victoria Dearing

Photography . 27.5 x 44.5 x 0.3 cm Photography . 10.8 x 17.5 x 0.1 inch

€900 €810

Photography, Cedric, Robert Mapplethorpe

Robert Mapplethorpe

Photography . 35.5 x 35.5 x 1 cm Photography . 14 x 14 x 0.4 inch

€27,000

Photography, Birds #8, Karine Nicolleau

Karine Nicolleau

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

€250

Photography, Flying, Victoire d'Harcourt

Victoire d'Harcourt

Photography . 40 x 40 x 2 cm Photography . 15.7 x 15.7 x 0.8 inch

€1,200

Photography, La Confianza, James Sparshatt

James Sparshatt

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

€839 €756

Print, Venice, Giovanni Korompay

Giovanni Korompay

Print . 50 x 35.5 x 0.2 cm Print . 19.7 x 14 x 0.1 inch

€650

Photography, Weary Grin, Ali Buhamad

Ali Buhamad

Photography . 50 x 40 x 5 cm Photography . 19.7 x 15.7 x 2 inch

€903

Photography, Nun, Alain Daussin

Nun

Alain Daussin

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

€1,980

Photography, Jagger 1965, John Rowlands

John Rowlands

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

€1,219

Photography, 4 girls, Samuel Cueto

Samuel Cueto

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

€900

Photography, Air, Christophe Battifero

Air

Christophe Battifero

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

€410

Photography, J'arrive chez moi, Marick

Marick

Photography . 40 x 50 x 1 cm Photography . 15.7 x 19.7 x 0.4 inch

€400

Photography, Girls, Robert Stieghorst

Robert Stieghorst

Photography . 33 x 19 cm Photography . 13 x 7.5 inch

€3,000

Photography, Untitled #42, Josef Nadj

Josef Nadj

Photography . 25 x 30 cm Photography . 9.8 x 11.8 inch

€1,100

Painting, Equinox, Nef

Nef

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

€1,700

Photography, Rockies - 152101, Simeon Posen

Simeon Posen

Photography . 25.4 x 30.5 x 5.1 cm Photography . 10 x 12 x 2 inch

€812

Photography, Eternal sleeping, Shulan Wang

Shulan Wang

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

€1,400

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

Print, Six Mark Stones, Joe Tilson

Joe Tilson

Print . 35 x 50 x 0.2 cm Print . 13.8 x 19.7 x 0.1 inch

€390

Photography, Mid Point 3, Tenesh Webber

Tenesh Webber

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

€2,415

Photography, Hand I, Laurent Gudin

Laurent Gudin

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

€1,600

Photography, El Dandy, James Sparshatt

James Sparshatt

Photography . 50 x 40 x 1 cm Photography . 19.7 x 15.7 x 0.4 inch

€1,509 €1,358

Photography, Madonna, Kristina Trudorudo

Kristina Trudorudo

Photography . 35 x 27.5 x 0.3 cm Photography . 13.8 x 10.8 x 0.1 inch

€600

Print, Huts, Pierre Boncompain

Pierre Boncompain

Print . 31 x 38.5 x 0.1 cm Print . 12.2 x 15.2 x 0 inch

€200