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, Sleepy Village, Lana Devidze

Lana Devidze

Painting . 23.5 x 30 x 1.6 cm Painting . 9.3 x 11.8 x 0.6 inch

€700

Photography, Sunflower (S), Tyler Shields

Tyler Shields

Photography . 45.7 x 45.7 cm Photography . 18 x 18 inch

€2,286

Painting, Sunset 69, Hilary Winfield

Hilary Winfield

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

€315

Painting, Saltwater 4, Hilary Winfield

Hilary Winfield

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

€361

Painting, Infanta, Alexander Daniloff

Alexander Daniloff

Painting . 35 x 10 x 0.3 cm Painting . 13.8 x 3.9 x 0.1 inch

€235

Sculpture, Bidon street, AC 5

AC 5

Sculpture . 46 x 33 x 13.5 cm Sculpture . 18.1 x 13 x 5.3 inch

€380 €342

Painting, A return, Mikolaj Malesza

Mikolaj Malesza

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

€500

Painting, Mosaica 2, Dominique Joyeux

Dominique Joyeux

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

€650

Painting, A2609, Thierry Benzaid

Thierry Benzaid

Painting . 18 x 26 x 1 cm Painting . 7.1 x 10.2 x 0.4 inch

€163

Painting, Birches in gold, Simon Kozhin

Simon Kozhin

Painting . 20 x 30 x 0.3 cm Painting . 7.9 x 11.8 x 0.1 inch

€2,700

Painting, Chinese Persimmon, Peipei Li

Peipei Li

Painting . 30.48 x 40.64 x 3 cm Painting . 12 x 16 x 1.2 inch

€750

Painting, Abstract No. 81, Gina Vor

Gina Vor

Painting . 29.8 x 24 x 0.2 cm Painting . 11.7 x 9.4 x 0.1 inch

€150

Painting, Madame, Isabelle Hirtzig

Isabelle Hirtzig

Painting . 32 x 24 x 0.1 cm Painting . 12.6 x 9.4 x 0 inch

€165

Painting, Exquisite seduction, Christy

Christy

Painting . 42 x 30 x 2 cm Painting . 16.5 x 11.8 x 0.8 inch

€1,000

Fine Art Drawings, Untitled, Tarek Butayhi

Tarek Butayhi

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

€900

Fine Art Drawings, Le Canon, Karin Boinet

Karin Boinet

Fine Art Drawings . 21 x 29.7 x 0.01 cm Fine Art Drawings . 8.3 x 11.7 x 0 inch

€620

Fine Art Drawings, Trateur, Karin Boinet

Karin Boinet

Fine Art Drawings . 29.7 x 21 x 0.01 cm Fine Art Drawings . 11.7 x 8.3 x 0 inch

€620

Photography, #1, Julien Espiaut

#1

Julien Espiaut

Photography . 29.7 x 21 x 0.1 cm Photography . 11.7 x 8.3 x 0 inch

€190

Painting, Park, Vyacheslav B.

Vyacheslav B.

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

€205

Painting, Sunlight, Yaroslav Leonets

Yaroslav Leonets

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

€731

Painting, Sbc 242, Susan Cantrick

Susan Cantrick

Painting . 40 x 40 cm Painting . 15.7 x 15.7 inch

€724

Painting, Abstract 10, Vera Hoi

Vera Hoi

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

€700

Painting, Abstract No. 71, Gina Vor

Gina Vor

Painting . 39 x 29 x 0.2 cm Painting . 15.4 x 11.4 x 0.1 inch

€200

Painting, Sea life 1, Gina Vor

Gina Vor

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

€300

Painting, Shogun, Anthony Dunphy

Anthony Dunphy

Painting . 40.6 x 50.8 x 0.8 cm Painting . 16 x 20 x 0.3 inch

€764

Painting, Orange Sun, Ksenia Tsyganyuk

Ksenia Tsyganyuk

Painting . 30 x 30 x 1.6 cm Painting . 11.8 x 11.8 x 0.6 inch

€410

Painting, Zora, Patricia Simsa

Patricia Simsa

Painting . 30 x 30 x 6 cm Painting . 11.8 x 11.8 x 2.4 inch

€750

Painting, Happy hour, Pol Ledent

Pol Ledent

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

€350

Painting, The city of joy, Pol Ledent

Pol Ledent

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

€350

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