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…

Read more
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

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

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

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, Lyric theatre, Berenice Abbott

Berenice Abbott

Photography . 36.8 x 48.9 x 0.3 cm Photography . 14.5 x 19.25 x 0.1 inch

€15,679

Painting, Estuary 1, Margaret Neill

Margaret Neill

Painting . 46 x 46 cm Painting . 18.1 x 18.1 inch

€2,355

Print, Bivalva, LN Le Cheviller

LN Le Cheviller

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

€130

Fine Art Drawings, Sans Titre, Chen Zhen

Chen Zhen

Fine Art Drawings . 34 x 25 cm Fine Art Drawings . 13.4 x 9.8 inch

€6,000

Photography, Birds #7, Karine Nicolleau

Karine Nicolleau

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

€250

Photography, Untitled, Claudio Abate

Claudio Abate

Photography . 40 x 29 x 0.01 cm Photography . 15.7 x 11.4 x 0 inch

€18,000

Print, Âne, Guillaume Piot

Guillaume Piot

Print . 42 x 30 cm Print . 16.5 x 11.8 inch

€90

Photography, Baby Love Bug, Arthur Steel

Arthur Steel

Photography . 33 x 41 x 1 cm Photography . 13 x 16.1 x 0.4 inch

€895

Photography, Last London Bus, Bert Hardy

Bert Hardy

Photography . 31 x 41 x 0.01 cm Photography . 12.2 x 16.1 x 0 inch

€1,100

Photography, Austin Road, Nathaniel Foster

Nathaniel Foster

Photography . 45 x 30 x 2 cm Photography . 17.7 x 11.8 x 0.8 inch

€2,200

Photography, Memories IV, 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

Photography, 4 monkeys, Samuel Cueto

Samuel Cueto

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

€800

Photography, Sans 3, Lucien Hervé

Lucien Hervé

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

€3,000

Photography, Plane, Bridgeman

Bridgeman

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

€240

Photography, Life, Christophe Battifero

Christophe Battifero

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

€410

Photography, Rose boy, Marcelina Amelia

Marcelina Amelia

Photography . 45.9 x 30.2 cm Photography . 18.1 x 11.9 inch

€550

Photography, Brian Jones, John Rowlands

John Rowlands

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

€1,231

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, Carmen, NY, Horst P. Horst

Horst P. Horst

Photography . 35.6 x 27.9 x 0.3 cm Photography . 14 x 11 x 0.1 inch

€10,939

Photography, Rivales, D-A Woisard

D-A Woisard

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

€800

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, Untitled #29, Josef Nadj

Josef Nadj

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

€1,100

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

Fine Art Drawings, Pain et couteau, Raoul Ubac

Raoul Ubac

Fine Art Drawings . 36 x 42 cm Fine Art Drawings . 14.2 x 16.5 inch

€10,000

Photography, E.M.A, Renaud Monfourny

Renaud Monfourny

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

€1,500

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, El Paso, James Sparshatt

James Sparshatt

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

€839

Photography, Mother, Kristina Trudorudo

Kristina Trudorudo

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

€600

Photography, Elton John II, Robert Knight

Robert Knight

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

€866

Photography, The Mist, Shulan Wang

Shulan Wang

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

€1,000

Photography, Loops 1, Tenesh Webber

Tenesh Webber

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

€2,415

Painting, Fleurs III, Yoann Merienne

Yoann Merienne

Painting . 50 x 50 cm Painting . 19.7 x 19.7 inch

€3,800

Photography, Folium 8, Francesco Mussida

Francesco Mussida

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

€1,300

Photography, Mur 006, Sophie Bassouls

Sophie Bassouls

Photography . 48 x 33 x 1 cm Photography . 18.9 x 13 x 0.4 inch

€750