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, Memories III, 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, Moonshine, Shulan Wang

Shulan Wang

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

€1,000

Photography, 135 Méga-Jul #2, Samzaï

Samzaï

Photography . 30 x 45 x 0.5 cm Photography . 11.8 x 17.7 x 0.2 inch

€165

Photography, El Barbudo, James Sparshatt

James Sparshatt

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

€839

Photography, Goodnight II, Amrita Bilimoria

Amrita Bilimoria

Photography . 45.7 x 45.7 x 0.5 cm Photography . 18 x 18 x 0.2 inch

€1,413

Photography, Ram Dad, Ken Heyman

Ken Heyman

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

€4,376

Photography, Rod and Ronnie, Robert Knight

Robert Knight

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

€866

Print, 2 Girls, Death NYC

Death NYC

Print . 45 x 32 x 0.1 cm Print . 17.7 x 12.6 x 0 inch

€129

Print, Homeless Black, Death NYC

Death NYC

Print . 32 x 45 x 0.1 cm Print . 12.6 x 17.7 x 0 inch

€129

Print, Marilyn LV Pink, Death NYC

Death NYC

Print . 32 x 32 x 0.1 cm Print . 12.6 x 12.6 x 0 inch

€129

Photography, 135 Méga-Jul #6, Samzaï

Samzaï

Photography . 30 x 45 x 0.5 cm Photography . 11.8 x 17.7 x 0.2 inch

€165

Photography, Control, Ali Buhamad

Ali Buhamad

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

€456

Photography, Liz & Dick, Bert Stern

Bert Stern

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

€3,900

Fine Art Drawings, Wroclaw, Mariusz Szalajdewicz

Mariusz Szalajdewicz

Fine Art Drawings . 30 x 32 cm Fine Art Drawings . 11.8 x 12.6 inch

€200

Photography, Picasso, André Sartres

André Sartres

Photography . 30 x 20 x 0.05 cm Photography . 11.8 x 7.9 x 0 inch

€350

Photography, Le panier, Claude Vesco

Claude Vesco

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

€450

Photography, I am awake, Shulan Wang

Shulan Wang

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

€1,500

Photography, Busy Street, Ken Heyman

Ken Heyman

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

€4,376

Photography, Coco Chanel, Bridgeman

Bridgeman

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

€240

Photography, Woman, Eugenie Killikh

Eugenie Killikh

Photography . 38 x 25.4 x 0.3 cm Photography . 15 x 10 x 0.1 inch

€1,094

Photography, Duality, Eugenie Killikh

Eugenie Killikh

Photography . 38 x 38 x 0.3 cm Photography . 15 x 15 x 0.1 inch

€1,094

Photography, Intervals 5., Petr Strnad

Petr Strnad

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

€320

Photography, Portrait #2, D-A Woisard

D-A Woisard

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

€1,200

Photography, Bridget Bardot, Bert Stern

Bert Stern

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

€3,900

Photography, Tracks XVI, Bruno Charoy

Bruno Charoy

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

€800

Painting, Estro-d, Lotario

Lotario

Painting . 43 x 43 x 0.1 cm Painting . 16.9 x 16.9 x 0 inch

€120

Photography, Headstand, Ken Heyman

Ken Heyman

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

€4,376

Photography, A Confiança, James Sparshatt

James Sparshatt

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

€719