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, Butterfly, Lorena Fonsato

Lorena Fonsato

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

€320

Painting, Golden Gate, Leonid K.

Leonid K.

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

€275

Painting, Rose Symphony, Kamo Atoyan

Kamo Atoyan

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

€273

Painting, Abstract No. 88, Gina Vor

Gina Vor

Painting . 39.5 x 29.5 x 0.3 cm Painting . 15.6 x 11.6 x 0.1 inch

€200

Painting, Character, Pascal Marlin

Pascal Marlin

Painting . 31 x 24 x 0.1 cm Painting . 12.2 x 9.4 x 0 inch

€240

Print, Doomsday, Michael Reeder

Michael Reeder

Print . 48.3 x 33 cm Print . 19 x 13 inch

€250

Painting, Turquoises vibes, Dam Domido

Dam Domido

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

€850

Painting, Untitled, Vicente Verdú

Vicente Verdú

Painting . 27.3 x 25 cm Painting . 10.7 x 9.8 inch

€500

Fine Art Drawings, Face cachée, Jazzu

Jazzu

Fine Art Drawings . 42 x 29 x 0.01 cm Fine Art Drawings . 16.5 x 11.4 x 0 inch

€450

Painting, Colourful spring, Pol Ledent

Pol Ledent

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

€550

Painting, Man Giacometti Colors, Spaco

Spaco

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

€190

Painting, Jesus Christ Colors, Spaco

Spaco

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

€190

Painting, Magical autumn, Pol Ledent

Pol Ledent

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

€600

Painting, Le cri de Frida Kahlo, Spaco

Spaco

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

€200

Painting, Meditation, Davide Angelillo

Davide Angelillo

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

€160

Painting, PoP Haring Colors, Spaco

Spaco

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

€200

Painting, Roger Federer, PyB

PyB

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

€200

Fine Art Drawings, Untitled, Robert Malaval

Robert Malaval

Fine Art Drawings . 27 x 22 x 0.3 cm Fine Art Drawings . 10.6 x 8.7 x 0.1 inch

€1,200

Painting, Water and Forest, Nestor Toro

Nestor Toro

Painting . 50.8 x 40.6 x 1.8 cm Painting . 20 x 16 x 0.7 inch

€927

Painting, Split Panorama 1, Nestor Toro

Nestor Toro

Painting . 50.8 x 40.6 x 1.8 cm Painting . 20 x 16 x 0.7 inch

€927

Painting, Sunny Dimensions, Nestor Toro

Nestor Toro

Painting . 50.8 x 40.6 x 1.8 cm Painting . 20 x 16 x 0.7 inch

€936

Photography, Poolside Chic, Slim Aarons

Slim Aarons

Photography . 41 x 31 cm Photography . 16.1 x 12.2 inch

€2,050

Photography, Poolside Pairs, Slim Aarons

Slim Aarons

Photography . 31 x 41 cm Photography . 12.2 x 16.1 inch

€2,050

Painting, Red Valley 2, Nestor Toro

Nestor Toro

Painting . 50.8 x 40.6 x 1.8 cm Painting . 20 x 16 x 0.7 inch

€936

Painting, Escape Hatch, Shawn Marshall

Shawn Marshall

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

€772

Print, Layerform #6, Petr Strnad

Petr Strnad

Print . 33.3 x 50 x 0.1 cm Print . 13.1 x 19.7 x 0 inch

€320

Painting, Quiet Evening, Nataliia Loza

Nataliia Loza

Painting . 27 x 35 x 1.5 cm Painting . 10.6 x 13.8 x 0.6 inch

€246

Print, Lucid Dreamer, Saba Shengelia

Saba Shengelia

Print . 45.16 x 33.87 x 0.2 cm Print . 17.8 x 13.3 x 0.1 inch

€500

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