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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Sculpture, Icare, Prag

Prag

Sculpture . 28.5 x 34.5 x 12 cm Sculpture . 11.2 x 13.6 x 4.7 inch

€1,100

Sculpture, Lib(e)ro, Antonio Presti

Antonio Presti

Sculpture . 24 x 44 x 29 cm Sculpture . 9.4 x 17.3 x 11.4 inch

€950

Painting, Paysage bleu 5, Hei Yue

Hei Yue

Painting . 45 x 45 x 1 cm Painting . 17.7 x 17.7 x 0.4 inch

€2,500 €2,250

Sculpture, Musicien, Anmarie Léon

Anmarie Léon

Sculpture . 40 x 15 x 15 cm Sculpture . 15.7 x 5.9 x 5.9 inch

€1,800

Photography, Aftermath, Fiona Tan

Fiona Tan

Photography . 32.5 x 47.5 x 0.1 cm Photography . 12.8 x 18.7 x 0 inch

€3,000

Painting, Diane, Jean-Luc Almond

Jean-Luc Almond

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

€2,120

Painting, Pink Cradle, Su Bin Lim

Su Bin Lim

Painting . 24.2 x 33.4 x 3 cm Painting . 9.5 x 13.1 x 1.2 inch

€1,000

Sculpture, No! #3, Gang Chen

Gang Chen

Sculpture . 39 x 39 x 39 cm Sculpture . 15.4 x 15.4 x 15.4 inch

€4,000

Sculpture, Fish, Irakli Tsuladze

Irakli Tsuladze

Sculpture . 20 x 36 x 12 cm Sculpture . 7.9 x 14.2 x 4.7 inch

€1,800

Painting, Flowering, Rosa Maria Gallego

Rosa Maria Gallego

Painting . 35 x 45 x 3 cm Painting . 13.8 x 17.7 x 1.2 inch

€1,000

Print, Bethleham Set, Zedsy

Zedsy

Print . 50 x 50 cm Print . 19.685 x 19.685 inch

€2,259

Print, Red, Oli Epp

Red

Oli Epp

Print . 41.5 x 47.5 cm Print . 16.3 x 18.7 inch

€5,000

Print, Magic Kim, Marie Serruya

Marie Serruya

Print . 33 x 50 x 0.1 cm Print . 13 x 19.7 x 0 inch

€135

Sculpture, Instrument, Eliot Greenwald

Eliot Greenwald

Sculpture . 47 x 46 x 16 cm Sculpture . 18.5 x 18.1 x 6.3 inch

€7,228

Sculpture, Babyfoot 35cm, Idan Zareski

Idan Zareski

Sculpture . 44 x 30 x 35 cm Sculpture . 17.3 x 11.8 x 13.8 inch

€9,000

Sculpture, Distinctive, Olga Anashkina

Olga Anashkina

Sculpture . 35 x 45 x 3 cm Sculpture . 13.8 x 17.7 x 1.2 inch

€903

Painting, Monogamous, Amir Kerr

Amir Kerr

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

€2,259

Print, Black Flag, Santiago Sierra

Santiago Sierra

Print . 31 x 31.5 x 0.4 cm Print . 12.2 x 12.4 x 0.2 inch

€6,000

Sculpture, Transplantation 4, VAM

VAM

Sculpture . 35 x 20 x 20 cm Sculpture . 13.8 x 7.9 x 7.9 inch

€1,200

Sculpture, Snowboard, Miguel Guía

Miguel Guía

Sculpture . 33 x 35 x 16.5 cm Sculpture . 13 x 13.8 x 6.5 inch

€1,380

Sculpture, Bon Santé, Arman

Arman

Sculpture . 40 x 24.5 x 5 cm Sculpture . 15.7 x 9.6 x 2 inch

€6,000

Painting, En 4, VHE

VHE

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

€250 €225

Sculpture, La nuit, Thalia Dalecky

Thalia Dalecky

Sculpture . 17 x 50 x 50 cm Sculpture . 6.7 x 19.7 x 19.7 inch

€3,200

Print, Saint-Malo, Mark Brusse

Mark Brusse

Print . 45 x 31 x 0.1 cm Print . 17.7 x 12.2 x 0 inch

€150

Painting, Friendly Alien #2, Tom Hurel

Tom Hurel

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

€720

Print, Solstici, Joan Brossa

Joan Brossa

Print . 50 x 38 cm Print . 19.7 x 15 inch

€550

Sculpture, Mystica, Irakli Nasidze

Irakli Nasidze

Sculpture . 38 x 19 x 27 cm Sculpture . 15 x 7.5 x 10.6 inch

€7,000

Sculpture, Restriction, Gaya Lastovjak

Gaya Lastovjak

Sculpture . 45 x 35 x 6 cm Sculpture . 17.7 x 13.8 x 2.4 inch

€1,300

Sculpture, Family, Milko Dobrev

Milko Dobrev

Sculpture . 31 x 16 x 7 cm Sculpture . 12.2 x 6.3 x 2.8 inch

€1,350

Sculpture, Habitaculo, Gisele Borras

Gisele Borras

Sculpture . 27 x 23 x 23 cm Sculpture . 10.6 x 9.1 x 9.1 inch

€5,500

Sculpture, NO, Santiago Sierra

NO

Santiago Sierra

Sculpture . 25.8 x 33.7 x 4.5 cm Sculpture . 10.2 x 13.3 x 1.8 inch

€11,000

Fine Art Drawings, Bird duet right, CJ Pyle

CJ Pyle

Fine Art Drawings . 26 x 19 cm Fine Art Drawings . 10.2 x 7.5 inch

€1,400

Design, Dulas Bowl I, Philip Hearsey

Philip Hearsey

Design . 9.5 x 47.5 x 25 cm Design . 3.7 x 18.7 x 9.8 inch

€2,951

Sculpture, Snowfall, Olga Tiho

Olga Tiho

Sculpture . 28 x 34 x 14 cm Sculpture . 11 x 13.4 x 5.5 inch

€542

Sculpture, Flight, Milko Dobrev

Milko Dobrev

Sculpture . 30 x 8.5 x 5 cm Sculpture . 11.8 x 3.3 x 2 inch

€1,350

Sculpture, Waiting to exhale, Arman

Arman

Sculpture . 40 x 24.5 x 7 cm Sculpture . 15.7 x 9.6 x 2.8 inch

€9,500

Sculpture, No! #1, Gang Chen

Gang Chen

Sculpture . 39 x 39 x 39 cm Sculpture . 15.4 x 15.4 x 15.4 inch

€4,000

Painting, Tolteca, Rosa Maria Gallego

Rosa Maria Gallego

Painting . 44 x 33 x 3 cm Painting . 17.3 x 13 x 1.2 inch

€1,000

Painting, Hannah, Jean-Luc Almond

Jean-Luc Almond

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

€2,120