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, O prazer, James Sparshatt

James Sparshatt

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

€839

Photography, Point Break, Tanguy Mendrisse

Tanguy Mendrisse

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

€160

Photography, Dream Lake 2, Majo Jurcik

Majo Jurcik

Photography . 28 x 18.6 cm Photography . 11 x 7.3 inch

€300

Painting, Memories 6, Almazan Miquel

Almazan Miquel

Painting . 40 x 40 x 1 cm Painting . 15.7 x 15.7 x 0.4 inch

€750

Painting, Point Commun, Nef

Nef

Painting . 42 x 29.7 cm Painting . 16.5 x 11.7 inch

€200

Painting, Lost way, Nef

Nef

Painting . 29.7 x 42 cm Painting . 11.7 x 16.5 inch

€300

Photography, Révolutionnaire, Feng Hatat

Feng Hatat

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

€800

Photography, Moon2, Bridgeman

Bridgeman

Photography . 20 x 30 x 0.1 cm Photography . 7.9 x 11.8 x 0 inch

€240

Photography, Cuba - Havana, Eve Arnold

Eve Arnold

Photography . 30.5 x 25.4 x 0.3 cm Photography . 12 x 10 x 0.1 inch

€1,367

Photography, Mercury And May, Mick Rock

Mick Rock

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

€1,975

Photography, Tracks XI, Bruno Charoy

Bruno Charoy

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

€800

Photography, Paris VIIème, D-A Woisard

D-A Woisard

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

€900

Painting, Warsaw 3, Joanna Woyda

Joanna Woyda

Painting . 22 x 49 cm Painting . 8.7 x 19.3 inch

€350

Fine Art Drawings, Untitled 262, Tarek Butayhi

Tarek Butayhi

Fine Art Drawings . 21 x 30 cm Fine Art Drawings . 8.3 x 11.8 inch

€638

Photography, Old time, Gerry Cranham

Gerry Cranham

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

€690

Photography, Injustice, Rodolfo Franchi

Rodolfo Franchi

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

€560

Photography, Trou noir, Rodolfo Franchi

Rodolfo Franchi

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

€560

Photography, Happy family, Rodolfo Franchi

Rodolfo Franchi

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

€560

Photography, Olivia, Amrita Bilimoria

Amrita Bilimoria

Photography . 45.7 x 30.7 x 0.5 cm Photography . 18 x 12.1 x 0.2 inch

€1,459

Painting, Marilyn monroe, Spaco

Spaco

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

€200

Photography, Tracks IV, Bruno Charoy

Bruno Charoy

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

€1,200

Photography, El tabaquero, James Sparshatt

James Sparshatt

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

€719

Painting, Times Up I, Michael Grine

Michael Grine

Painting . 22.9 x 30.5 x 0 cm Painting . 9 x 12 x 0.01 inch

€273

Painting, Hub, Michael Grine

Hub

Michael Grine

Painting . 30.5 x 22.9 x 0 cm Painting . 12 x 9 x 0.01 inch

€273

Painting, Ghost I, Michael Grine

Michael Grine

Painting . 22.9 x 30.5 x 0 cm Painting . 9 x 12 x 0.01 inch

€273

Painting, Box, Michael Grine

Box

Michael Grine

Painting . 22.9 x 30.5 x 0 cm Painting . 9 x 12 x 0.01 inch

€273

Sculpture, Voyou Brut!, JP Malot

JP Malot

Sculpture . 30 x 40 x 3 cm Sculpture . 11.8 x 15.7 x 1.2 inch

€1,100

Photography, Eiffel, Bridgeman

Bridgeman

Photography . 27 x 20 x 0.1 cm Photography . 10.6 x 7.9 x 0 inch

€240

Photography, King Mysterious, Rodrigo

Rodrigo

Photography . 44.5 x 33.3 x 0.1 cm Photography . 17.5 x 13.1 x 0 inch

€1,599

Photography, Drezniak, Michael Grecco

Michael Grecco

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

€2,735

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