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, Stavern, Nadezda Stupina

Nadezda Stupina

Painting . 24 x 33 x 2 cm Painting . 9.4 x 13 x 0.8 inch

€250

Painting, City Life, Helena Liberman

Helena Liberman

Painting . 33 x 32 x 1.5 cm Painting . 13 x 12.6 x 0.6 inch

€440

Photography, Golden Nugget, Tyler Shields

Tyler Shields

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

€2,243

Fine Art Drawings, Metropolis, Tarek

Tarek

Fine Art Drawings . 32 x 24 x 0.1 cm Fine Art Drawings . 12.6 x 9.4 x 0 inch

€250

Painting, Grate I, Michael Grine

Michael Grine

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

€269

Painting, Warp Bubble I, Michael Grine

Michael Grine

Painting . 27.9 x 35.6 x 0 cm Painting . 11 x 14 x 0.01 inch

€269

Painting, Move II, Michael Grine

Michael Grine

Painting . 27.9 x 35.6 x 0 cm Painting . 11 x 14 x 0.01 inch

€269

Painting, Hairy, Michael Grine

Michael Grine

Painting . 27.9 x 35.6 x 0 cm Painting . 11 x 14 x 0.01 inch

€269

Painting, Drain, Michael Grine

Michael Grine

Painting . 35.6 x 27.9 x 0 cm Painting . 14 x 11 x 0.01 inch

€269

Painting, Corner, Michael Grine

Michael Grine

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

€269

Painting, Legacy I, Michael Grine

Michael Grine

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

€269

Painting, Winter street, Vyacheslav B.

Vyacheslav B.

Painting . 27 x 16 x 2 cm Painting . 10.6 x 6.3 x 0.8 inch

€205

Painting, Heart of the City, Iryna Rets

Iryna Rets

Painting . 41 x 30 x 0.6 cm Painting . 16.1 x 11.8 x 0.2 inch

€320

Painting, Roofscape Paris, Nigel Bailey

Nigel Bailey

Painting . 30.5 x 30.5 x 0.5 cm Painting . 12 x 12 x 0.2 inch

€342

Painting, Faded, Dyala Khodary

Dyala Khodary

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

€900

Fine Art Drawings, Travel, Maksym Kisilov

Maksym Kisilov

Fine Art Drawings . 29 x 41.9 x 2.5 cm Fine Art Drawings . 11.4 x 16.5 x 1 inch

€897

Photography, Entrelazar 204, Javier Rey

Javier Rey

Photography . 35 x 39 x 0.3 cm Photography . 13.8 x 15.4 x 0.1 inch

€718

Photography, Venice Gondolas, Slim Aarons

Slim Aarons

Photography . 40 x 40 cm Photography . 15.7 x 15.7 inch

€3,690

Painting, Park, Vyacheslav B.

Vyacheslav B.

Painting . 22 x 29 x 2 cm Painting . 8.7 x 11.4 x 0.8 inch

€205

Painting, Monastery, Vyacheslav B.

Vyacheslav B.

Painting . 23 x 26 x 2 cm Painting . 9.1 x 10.2 x 0.8 inch

€205

Painting, In Romny, Egor Shvachunov

Egor Shvachunov

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

€190

Painting, Message, Dyala Khodary

Dyala Khodary

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

€1,000

Painting, Summer, Muraz Martirosyan

Muraz Martirosyan

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

€390

Painting, Golden Streets, Anush Emiryan

Anush Emiryan

Painting . 30 x 20 x 2 cm Painting . 11.8 x 7.9 x 0.8 inch

€108 €91

Painting, Cloudy July, Valery Savenets

Valery Savenets

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

€270

Painting, May Morning, Valery Savenets

Valery Savenets

Painting . 21 x 30 x 2 cm Painting . 8.3 x 11.8 x 0.8 inch

€250

Painting, Paris, Dean Tavoularis

Dean Tavoularis

Painting . 41 x 33 x 1 cm Painting . 16.1 x 13 x 0.4 inch

€4,000

Painting, Venice, Kristina Mallen

Kristina Mallen

Painting . 39.5 x 39.5 x 1 cm Painting . 15.6 x 15.6 x 0.4 inch

€950

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