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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Fine Art Drawings, Roman Warmth, Nora Shade

Nora Shade

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

€229

Painting, Untitled, Vicente Verdú

Vicente Verdú

Painting . 31 x 22 cm Painting . 12.2 x 8.7 inch

€500

Painting, Trees, Stanislav Bojankov

Stanislav Bojankov

Painting . 50 x 40 x 0.5 cm Painting . 19.7 x 15.7 x 0.2 inch

€450

Painting, Verse XLIX, Yari Ostovany

Yari Ostovany

Painting . 31.3 x 23.7 x 0.1 cm Painting . 12.3 x 9.3 x 0 inch

€785

Painting, Untitled, Fabrizia Conti

Fabrizia Conti

Painting . 21 x 29.5 x 0.1 cm Painting . 8.3 x 11.6 x 0 inch

€300

Print, 300 SL Joyride, Ewen Gur

Ewen Gur

Print . 29.7 x 42 x 0.3 cm Print . 11.7 x 16.5 x 0.1 inch

€380

Painting, Sans contrefaçon, Mr Melody

Mr Melody

Painting . 30.5 x 32 x 1.5 cm Painting . 12 x 12.6 x 0.6 inch

€400

Painting, Esther, Alexander Litvinov

Alexander Litvinov

Painting . 26 x 17 x 2 cm Painting . 10.2 x 6.7 x 0.8 inch

€305

Fine Art Drawings, Des Ballerines, Lali Kakubava

Lali Kakubava

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

€500

Photography, Candy circus, Samsofy

Samsofy

Photography . 24 x 36 x 1 cm Photography . 9.4 x 14.2 x 0.4 inch

€60

Painting, Liebelei, Christel Haag

Christel Haag

Painting . 27.9 x 38.1 x 2.5 cm Painting . 11 x 15 x 1 inch

€302

Fine Art Drawings, NYC, Isabelle Hirtzig

NYC

Isabelle Hirtzig

Fine Art Drawings . 20 x 30 x 0.1 cm Fine Art Drawings . 7.9 x 11.8 x 0 inch

€160

Painting, Marathon 9, Arno Lanzi

Arno Lanzi

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

€670

Print, Talenti Park, Lucio Forte

Lucio Forte

Print . 29.7 x 42 x 0.2 cm Print . 11.7 x 16.5 x 0.1 inch

€80

Print, V'ger, Lucio Forte

Lucio Forte

Print . 29.7 x 42 x 0.1 cm Print . 11.7 x 16.5 x 0 inch

€65

Photography, Golden, Samos, Nilgun Sezgin

Nilgun Sezgin

Photography . 30 x 45 x 0.1 cm Photography . 11.8 x 17.7 x 0 inch

€225

Fine Art Drawings, Untitled, Arnaud GIbersztajn

Arnaud GIbersztajn

Fine Art Drawings . 30 x 23 x 1 cm Fine Art Drawings . 11.8 x 9.1 x 0.4 inch

€450

Painting, Abstract-X, Anand Manchiraju

Anand Manchiraju

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

€3,661

Painting, Oursins, Hervé Maury

Hervé Maury

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

€420

Painting, Les sardines, Hervé Maury

Hervé Maury

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

€420

Painting, Selfie chiens, Hervé Maury

Hervé Maury

Painting . 20 x 40 x 3 cm Painting . 7.9 x 15.7 x 1.2 inch

€420

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