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…

Read more
Painting, Sky, Simon Kozhin

Sky

Simon Kozhin

Painting . 40 x 50 x 0.3 cm Painting . 15.7 x 19.7 x 0.1 inch

€8,700

Painting, Green Oasis, Mariah Birsak

Mariah Birsak

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

€800

Painting, Suspension, L'Atlas

L'Atlas

Painting . 50 x 40 x 3 cm Painting . 19.7 x 15.7 x 1.2 inch

€1,400

Painting, River, Leonid K.

Leonid K.

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

€249

Sculpture, Ore 2, Nano Nasty

Nano Nasty

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

€600

Painting, Brut II, Jazzu

Jazzu

Painting . 29.7 x 21 cm Painting . 11.7 x 8.3 inch

€400

Painting, Partly cloudy, Galya Popova

Galya Popova

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

€960

Print, Balloon Girl, Mr Brainwash

Mr Brainwash

Print . 50 x 45 x 3 cm Print . 19.7 x 17.7 x 1.2 inch

€31,788

Painting, #1377, Arvid Boecker

Arvid Boecker

Painting . 50 x 40 x 6 cm Painting . 19.7 x 15.7 x 2.4 inch

€2,951

Print, Balance, Irena Aizen

Irena Aizen

Print . 25.5 x 22.5 x 1 cm Print . 10 x 8.9 x 0.4 inch

€648

Painting, Untitled, Almu Jimenez

Almu Jimenez

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

€1,170

Painting, Bookmarks, Galya Popova

Galya Popova

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

€960

Print, Madiba, Vincent Richeux

Vincent Richeux

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

€450

Painting, Summer blow, Pol Ledent

Pol Ledent

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

€500

Sculpture, Restriction, Gaya Lastovjak

Gaya Lastovjak

Sculpture . 45 x 35 x 6 cm Sculpture . 17.7 x 13.8 x 2.4 inch

€1,300

Painting, Pink Dip, Katherine Russell

Katherine Russell

Painting . 50 x 50 x 2.5 cm Painting . 19.7 x 19.7 x 1 inch

€950

Painting, Champs, Sophie Dumont

Sophie Dumont

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

€1,080

Painting, El niño, Cristina Ortiz

Cristina Ortiz

Painting . 20 x 40 x 2.9 cm Painting . 7.9 x 15.7 x 1.1 inch

€7,290

Painting, Pink, Almu Jimenez

Almu Jimenez

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

€1,170

Painting, S.t, Tonino Guerra

S.t

Tonino Guerra

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

€2,700

Print, Charity, Irena Aizen

Irena Aizen

Print . 36 x 23.5 x 1 cm Print . 14.2 x 9.3 x 0.4 inch

€648

Sculpture, Baby Pink, Nano Nasty

Nano Nasty

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

€600

Painting, TSJ-I-, JaveL Art

JaveL Art

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

€670

Painting, Divided, By Gem

By Gem

Painting . 40 x 20 x 3.5 cm Painting . 15.7 x 7.9 x 1.4 inch

€1,800

Painting, Carnival, Alexander Dobrodiy

Alexander Dobrodiy

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

€900

Painting, There in silence, Vild Art

Vild Art

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

€1,050