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, Sunflowers, Ivanyuk Oleksiy

Ivanyuk Oleksiy

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

€385

Painting, Yellow Vase 2, Norman Lerner

Norman Lerner

Painting . 35.6 x 27.9 x 2.5 cm Painting . 14 x 11 x 1 inch

€452

Painting, Endless Summer,, Nadia NL

Nadia NL

Painting . 50.8 x 40.6 x 3.8 cm Painting . 20 x 16 x 1.5 inch

€334

Print, Letter, Hrair Gharib

Hrair Gharib

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

€130

Painting, Flower girl, Olga Tiho

Olga Tiho

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

€452

Painting, Lyrical Blossoms, Kamo Atoyan

Kamo Atoyan

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

€217 €184

Painting, Flower Power, Lauren Acton

Lauren Acton

Painting . 35.6 x 27.9 x 2.5 cm Painting . 14 x 11 x 1 inch

€741

Painting, Blumenstueck 1, Mela

Mela

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

€422

Fine Art Drawings, Spring come, Margarita Zipman

Margarita Zipman

Fine Art Drawings . 50 x 40 x 0.1 cm Fine Art Drawings . 19.7 x 15.7 x 0 inch

€542

Fine Art Drawings, Les marguerites, Isabelle Hirtzig

Isabelle Hirtzig

Fine Art Drawings . 29.7 x 21 x 0.1 cm Fine Art Drawings . 11.7 x 8.3 x 0 inch

€115

Painting, Pink Lilies, Pavlenko Leonid

Pavlenko Leonid

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

€365

Painting, Flash, Iryna Bondar

Iryna Bondar

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

€400

Painting, Vae soli, Sandra Paris

Sandra Paris

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

€325

Fine Art Drawings, Carnations, Isabelle Hirtzig

Isabelle Hirtzig

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

€165

Painting, Flowers, Shapoval Ivan

Shapoval Ivan

Painting . 49 x 43 x 2 cm Painting . 19.3 x 16.9 x 0.8 inch

€550

Painting, Allium, Lorena Fonsato

Lorena Fonsato

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

€170

Painting, Peonies, Julia Ruf

Julia Ruf

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

€220

Fine Art Drawings, Exquisite, Kateryna Kostyk

Kateryna Kostyk

Fine Art Drawings . 42 x 30 x 0.1 cm Fine Art Drawings . 16.5 x 11.8 x 0 inch

€190

Fine Art Drawings, Flou de roses, Isabelle Hirtzig

Isabelle Hirtzig

Fine Art Drawings . 30 x 30 x 0.2 cm Fine Art Drawings . 11.8 x 11.8 x 0.1 inch

€165

Painting, August, Olga Artim

Olga Artim

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

€285

Painting, Red poppies, Oksana Ivanyuk

Oksana Ivanyuk

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

€385

Painting, Morning, Oksana Ivanyuk

Oksana Ivanyuk

Painting . 30 x 25 x 2 cm Painting . 11.8 x 9.8 x 0.8 inch

€225

Painting, Mimosas, Sola Puig

Sola Puig

Painting . 22 x 27 x 1 cm Painting . 8.7 x 10.6 x 0.4 inch

€600

Painting, Spring Scent, Anush Emiryan

Anush Emiryan

Painting . 30 x 24 x 2 cm Painting . 11.8 x 9.4 x 0.8 inch

€136 €116

Painting, Chun, Electre

Electre

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

€250

Painting, Roses, Olga Artim

Olga Artim

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

€310

Painting, Peony morning, Olga Artim

Olga Artim

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

€360

Painting, Peonies on blue, Olga Artim

Olga Artim

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

€320

Painting, My viols, Olga Artim

Olga Artim

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

€365

Painting, Pearl morning, Olga Artim

Olga Artim

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

€320

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