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, 7552, Renato Spagnoli

Renato Spagnoli

Painting . 50 x 50 x 0.2 cm Painting . 19.7 x 19.7 x 0.1 inch

€950

Fine Art Drawings, Penthesilea, Peter Hofmann

Peter Hofmann

Fine Art Drawings . 30 x 40 x 0.1 cm Fine Art Drawings . 11.8 x 15.7 x 0 inch

€1,000

Painting, Schnittblumen 03, Low Bros

Low Bros

Painting . 50 x 40 x 4 cm Painting . 19.7 x 15.7 x 1.6 inch

€3,200

Painting, Love Haring Colors, Spaco

Spaco

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

€200

Painting, Isthme, Marie de Lignerolles

Marie de Lignerolles

Painting . 50 x 50 x 0.1 cm Painting . 19.7 x 19.7 x 0 inch

€1,448

Fine Art Drawings, Dame en fleur, Flo. M

Flo. M

Fine Art Drawings . 30 x 21 x 0.5 cm Fine Art Drawings . 11.8 x 8.3 x 0.2 inch

€200

Painting, 29/3/25, Emmanuelle Vroelant

Emmanuelle Vroelant

Painting . 30 x 40 x 3 cm Painting . 11.8 x 15.7 x 1.2 inch

€2,000

Painting, Allesx1.0 AL12, Marcel Speet

Marcel Speet

Painting . 50 x 35 x 0.1 cm Painting . 19.7 x 13.8 x 0 inch

€420

Painting, P1.13, Jean Feinberg

Jean Feinberg

Painting . 44 x 32 cm Painting . 17.3 x 12.6 inch

€1,448

Painting, Adoration, Isabelle Hirtzig

Isabelle Hirtzig

Painting . 46 x 37 x 0.1 cm Painting . 18.1 x 14.6 x 0 inch

€185

Painting, Rolling Stones Colors, Spaco

Spaco

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

€200

Painting, Bugs loves Paris, Nacks

Nacks

Painting . 27.5 x 27.5 x 4.5 cm Painting . 10.8 x 10.8 x 1.8 inch

€800

Sculpture, Love…, Olivier Messas

Olivier Messas

Sculpture . 49 x 49 x 5 cm Sculpture . 19.3 x 19.3 x 2 inch

€1,500 €1,275

Painting, Performat 2., Petr Strnad

Petr Strnad

Painting . 27.9 x 19.6 x 0.1 cm Painting . 11 x 7.7 x 0 inch

€250

Painting, In this case basquiat, Spaco

Spaco

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

€200

Painting, Men Magritte Colors, Spaco

Spaco

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

€200

Painting, Ce qui rassure, Sophie Hors

Sophie Hors

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

€450

Painting, The Invader Colors, Spaco

Spaco

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

€190

Fine Art Drawings, Sans titre, Jacques Doucet

Jacques Doucet

Fine Art Drawings . 45 x 32 x 0.2 cm Fine Art Drawings . 17.7 x 12.6 x 0.1 inch

€6,000

Painting, Ronde Haring Colors, Spaco

Spaco

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

€200

Painting, Purple Rain Prince, Spaco

Spaco

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

€180

Fine Art Drawings, The Fish II, Marianna Oklejak

Marianna Oklejak

Fine Art Drawings . 29.7 x 41.9 x 0.1 cm Fine Art Drawings . 11.7 x 16.5 x 0 inch

€370

Painting, Frida Kahlo, Spaco

Spaco

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

€190

Sculpture, Wild Thing, Thierry Corpet

Thierry Corpet

Sculpture . 36 x 37 x 4 cm Sculpture . 14.2 x 14.6 x 1.6 inch

€800

Painting, Flamboyant, Beatrice Sartori

Beatrice Sartori

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

€2,950

Print, Now Complete 1., Petr Strnad

Petr Strnad

Print . 39.8 x 27.6 x 0.1 cm Print . 15.7 x 10.9 x 0 inch

€390

Fine Art Drawings, Sans titre, Kitty Sabatier

Kitty Sabatier

Fine Art Drawings . 30 x 30 x 0.5 cm Fine Art Drawings . 11.8 x 11.8 x 0.2 inch

€1,000

Painting, The Bow, Marian Williams

Marian Williams

Painting . 30 x 30 x 0.5 cm Painting . 11.8 x 11.8 x 0.2 inch

€250

Painting, Blue Car, Marian Williams

Marian Williams

Painting . 30 x 30 x 0.5 cm Painting . 11.8 x 11.8 x 0.2 inch

€250