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, A flower, Galya Popova

Galya Popova

Painting . 30 x 20 x 0.4 cm Painting . 11.8 x 7.9 x 0.2 inch

€500

Painting, Bouquet, Svetlana Saprykina

Svetlana Saprykina

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

€542

Painting, Bouquet rond, Navema

Navema

Painting . 40 x 50 x 2 cm Painting . 15.7 x 19.7 x 0.8 inch

€560

Painting, Flowery Love, Rose

Rose

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

€300

Painting, Léon, Albena Vatcheva

Albena Vatcheva

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

€545

Painting, A glass vase, Janusz Szpyt

Janusz Szpyt

Painting . 47 x 36 cm Painting . 18.5 x 14.2 inch

€1,300

Painting, Fall Vortex, Khrystyna Kozyuk

Khrystyna Kozyuk

Painting . 48 x 48 x 1.5 cm Painting . 18.9 x 18.9 x 0.6 inch

€4,200

Painting, Iris 1, Evgeniya Brits

Evgeniya Brits

Painting . 50 x 50 x 1.5 cm Painting . 19.7 x 19.7 x 0.6 inch

€800

Painting, Lilac, Maksym Kisilov

Maksym Kisilov

Painting . 29 x 40.9 x 2.5 cm Painting . 11.4 x 16.1 x 1 inch

€632

Painting, Rose solo, Agnès Tiollier

Agnès Tiollier

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

€400

Painting, Peonies, Olga Ponomarenko

Olga Ponomarenko

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

€1,444

Painting, Before winter, Xiaoyang Galas

Xiaoyang Galas

Painting . 50 x 39.9 x 3.8 cm Painting . 19.7 x 15.7 x 1.5 inch

€1,526

Painting, Peonies, Olga Ponomarenko

Olga Ponomarenko

Painting . 50 x 40 x 2 cm Painting . 19.7 x 15.7 x 0.8 inch

€1,173

Painting, Nasturtiums, Irina Trushkova

Irina Trushkova

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

€1,100

Painting, Spring IV, Nelli Tsenova

Nelli Tsenova

Painting . 47 x 37 x 2 cm Painting . 18.5 x 14.6 x 0.8 inch

€650

Painting, Curcuma, Lusie Schellenberg

Lusie Schellenberg

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

€1,000

Painting, Roztocze, Janusz Szpyt

Janusz Szpyt

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

€1,500

Print, Woman, Léon Lang

Léon Lang

Print . 35 x 46 x 0.2 cm Print . 13.8 x 18.1 x 0.1 inch

€300

Painting, Sunny Bloom, Natalya Mougenot

Natalya Mougenot

Painting . 50 x 50 x 3.5 cm Painting . 19.7 x 19.7 x 1.4 inch

€700

Painting, Red Bloom, Natalya Mougenot

Natalya Mougenot

Painting . 40 x 35.5 x 2 cm Painting . 15.7 x 14 x 0.8 inch

€600

Painting, Blooms II, Anastassia Skopp

Anastassia Skopp

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

€350

Painting, Chinese vase, Irina Trushkova

Irina Trushkova

Painting . 43 x 35 x 1.8 cm Painting . 16.9 x 13.8 x 0.7 inch

€1,200