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, Year by Year, Philip Hearsey

Philip Hearsey

Sculpture . 43 x 30 x 10 cm Sculpture . 16.9 x 11.8 x 3.9 inch

€3,150

Sculpture, Prunus ddris, Joseph Beuys

Joseph Beuys

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

€2,900

Fine Art Drawings, La Main, Fanny Gosse

Fanny Gosse

Fine Art Drawings . 32 x 24 x 0.1 cm Fine Art Drawings . 12.6 x 9.4 x 0 inch

€350

Photography, Brighter Days, Brooke Shaden

Brooke Shaden

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

€2,500

Sculpture, Grey Gingko, Kuno Vollet

Kuno Vollet

Sculpture . 50 x 28 x 28 cm Sculpture . 19.7 x 11 x 11 inch

€4,400

Painting, Glücksspiel, Vcan

Vcan

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

€1,300

Sculpture, Compagnons 8, Qihui Huang

Qihui Huang

Sculpture . 32 x 30 x 4.5 cm Sculpture . 12.6 x 11.8 x 1.8 inch

€603

Painting, Silenci II, Coia Ibañez

Coia Ibañez

Painting . 50 x 50 cm Painting . 19.7 x 19.7 inch

€1,650

Sculpture, Tete Roy Lichtenstein, PyB

PyB

Sculpture . 30 x 13 x 6 cm Sculpture . 11.8 x 5.1 x 2.4 inch

€250

Painting, Stationery button, Leonid K.

Leonid K.

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

€275

Painting, City perfomance, Leonid K.

Leonid K.

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

€275

Painting, A little angel, Leonid K.

Leonid K.

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

€275

Painting, Conductor, Leonid K.

Leonid K.

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

€275

Painting, Well on the field, Leonid K.

Leonid K.

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

€275

Painting, Self-portrait, Leonid K.

Leonid K.

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

€275

Painting, Marble Arch, Marco Araldi

Marco Araldi

Painting . 36 x 36 x 3 cm Painting . 14.2 x 14.2 x 1.2 inch

€699

Sculpture, Olympia, Alex Hodge

Alex Hodge

Sculpture . 38.1 x 12.7 x 12.7 cm Sculpture . 15 x 5 x 5 inch

€1,536

Sculpture, Moi aussi, Philippe Buil

Philippe Buil

Sculpture . 25 x 34 x 14 cm Sculpture . 9.8 x 13.4 x 5.5 inch

€650

Painting, Rollon, Coha

Coha

Painting . 30 x 30 x 4 cm Painting . 11.8 x 11.8 x 1.6 inch

€680

Painting, Il Mago, Alexander Daniloff

Alexander Daniloff

Painting . 30 x 17 x 0.1 cm Painting . 11.8 x 6.7 x 0 inch

€195

Painting, Meadow, Leonid K.

Leonid K.

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

€275

Sculpture, La Boucle, Gaël Rouxeville

Gaël Rouxeville

Sculpture . 20 x 38 x 30 cm Sculpture . 7.9 x 15 x 11.8 inch

€5,500

Design, Morning, Georgi Velikov

Georgi Velikov

Design . 47 x 41 x 15 cm Design . 18.5 x 16.1 x 5.9 inch

€3,800

Painting, Tpdca, Stefano Mazzolini

Stefano Mazzolini

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

€800 €720

Painting, Tedmu, Stefano Mazzolini

Stefano Mazzolini

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

€800 €720

Print, Untitled, Leonor Fini

Leonor Fini

Print . 32 x 24 cm Print . 12.6 x 9.4 inch

€600

Painting, Testa, Fernando Alday

Fernando Alday

Painting . 50 x 50 cm Painting . 19.7 x 19.7 inch

€1,300

Painting, Back to Basic !, Papa Mesk

Papa Mesk

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

€800

Sculpture, Parfums, Bernard Métranve

Bernard Métranve

Sculpture . 45 x 28 x 30 cm Sculpture . 17.7 x 11 x 11.8 inch

€4,730