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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Painting, A2508, Thierry Benzaid

Thierry Benzaid

Painting . 30 x 25 x 1 cm Painting . 11.8 x 9.8 x 0.4 inch

€250

Painting, O mon Bateau, Sylvie Pulur

Sylvie Pulur

Painting . 33 x 24 x 3 cm Painting . 13 x 9.4 x 1.2 inch

€560

Painting, Evasion, Sylvie Pulur

Sylvie Pulur

Painting . 41 x 27 x 3 cm Painting . 16.1 x 10.6 x 1.2 inch

€760

Painting, Gravity, Anatoly Varvarov

Anatoly Varvarov

Painting . 40 x 30 x 2 cm Painting . 15.7 x 11.8 x 0.8 inch

€850

Painting, By the sea, Peter Tovpev

Peter Tovpev

Painting . 25 x 34.5 x 2 cm Painting . 9.8 x 13.6 x 0.8 inch

€235

Fine Art Drawings, Peacefully, Kamsar Ohanyan

Kamsar Ohanyan

Fine Art Drawings . 50 x 40 x 3 cm Fine Art Drawings . 19.7 x 15.7 x 1.2 inch

€420

Painting, Reflet, Samiran Boruah

Samiran Boruah

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

€500

Fine Art Drawings, Waiting at Noon, Nora Shade

Nora Shade

Fine Art Drawings . 30 x 30 x 0.1 cm Fine Art Drawings . 11.8 x 11.8 x 0 inch

€225

Fine Art Drawings, Silent Drift, Nora Shade

Nora Shade

Fine Art Drawings . 30 x 30 x 0.1 cm Fine Art Drawings . 11.8 x 11.8 x 0 inch

€225

Fine Art Drawings, Portena, Jean-Jacques André

Jean-Jacques André

Fine Art Drawings . 39 x 29 x 1 cm Fine Art Drawings . 15.4 x 11.4 x 0.4 inch

€380

Painting, Bateaux en laisse, Izys

Izys

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

€150

Painting, Seascape-1, Anand Manchiraju

Anand Manchiraju

Painting . 30.5 x 38.1 x 0.3 cm Painting . 12 x 15 x 0.1 inch

€2,250

Painting, Twilight, Klimenko Olena

Klimenko Olena

Painting . 31 x 23 x 2 cm Painting . 12.2 x 9.1 x 0.8 inch

€295

Painting, Bateau vert, Nathalie Morand

Nathalie Morand

Painting . 22 x 35 x 2 cm Painting . 8.7 x 13.8 x 0.8 inch

€400

Print, Steamship, Lucio Forte

Lucio Forte

Print . 21 x 29.7 x 0.1 cm Print . 8.3 x 11.7 x 0 inch

€90

Painting, Normandy, Abashidze Marusya

Abashidze Marusya

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

€280

Painting, Childs Play, Anthony Dunphy

Anthony Dunphy

Painting . 40.6 x 50.8 x 0.8 cm Painting . 16 x 20 x 0.3 inch

€744

Painting, White boat, Ivan Pylypenko

Ivan Pylypenko

Painting . 30 x 40 x 2 cm Painting . 11.8 x 15.7 x 0.8 inch

€315

Painting, Seascape-1, Anand Manchiraju

Anand Manchiraju

Painting . 40.6 x 50.8 x 0.3 cm Painting . 16 x 20 x 0.1 inch

€2,250

Painting, Morning, Ivan Pylypenko

Ivan Pylypenko

Painting . 30 x 40 x 1.5 cm Painting . 11.8 x 15.7 x 0.6 inch

€315

Painting, Fisherman, Ivan Pylypenko

Ivan Pylypenko

Painting . 30 x 40 x 2 cm Painting . 11.8 x 15.7 x 0.8 inch

€315

Painting, Blue cloud, Nadezda Stupina

Nadezda Stupina

Painting . 35 x 37 x 1 cm Painting . 13.8 x 14.6 x 0.4 inch

€380

Painting, Opatija, Sona Adalyan

Sona Adalyan

Painting . 30 x 40 x 2 cm Painting . 11.8 x 15.7 x 0.8 inch

€499

Painting, Berges (1), Samiran Boruah

Samiran Boruah

Painting . 41 x 33 x 2 cm Painting . 16.1 x 13 x 0.8 inch

€350

Photography, Gdansk 04, Irène Jonas

Irène Jonas

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

€800

Painting, Cretan boats, Elena Sokolova

Elena Sokolova

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

€208

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