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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Print, Admiracion, Juan Ripolles

Juan Ripolles

Print . 30 x 20 x 0.2 cm Print . 11.8 x 7.9 x 0.1 inch

€390

Print, Sans-titre, Patrick Moya

Patrick Moya

Print . 30 x 27 cm Print . 11.8 x 10.6 inch

€200

Print, Button, Domenico Gnoli

Domenico Gnoli

Print . 21 x 29.4 x 0.1 cm Print . 8.3 x 11.6 x 0 inch

€14,500

Print, Untitled I (1), Izumi Kato

Izumi Kato

Print . 41.9 x 29.8 cm Print . 16.5 x 11.7 inch

€8,500

Fine Art Drawings, Sans titre, Rodolfo Nieto

Rodolfo Nieto

Fine Art Drawings . 50 x 37 cm Fine Art Drawings . 19.7 x 14.6 inch

€3,000

Print, Element, Michel DuPont

Michel DuPont

Print . 45.7 x 40.6 cm Print . 18 x 16 inch

€1,040

Print, Promenade II, Alex Shtelman

Alex Shtelman

Print . 48.3 x 40.6 x 5.1 cm Print . 19 x 16 x 2 inch

€859

Print, La Tête, Salvador Dali

Salvador Dali

Print . 38.5 x 28.5 cm Print . 15.2 x 11.2 inch

€2,500

Print, The vote, Shuixin Xu

Shuixin Xu

Print . 20 x 50 x 1 cm Print . 7.9 x 19.7 x 0.4 inch

€550

Print, Cactus, Joanna Gebal

Joanna Gebal

Print . 40 x 30 cm Print . 15.7 x 11.8 inch

€170

Print, Untitled, Jacques Doucet

Jacques Doucet

Print . 32 x 24.5 x 0.5 cm Print . 12.6 x 9.6 x 0.2 inch

€600

Print, Passion, Georges Rouault

Georges Rouault

Print . 44 x 33 x 5.5 cm Print . 17.3 x 13 x 2.2 inch

€18,600

Print, Scarabée, Max Ernst

Max Ernst

Print . 31.5 x 23.4 x 0.1 cm Print . 12.4 x 9.2 x 0 inch

€2,200

Print, Untitled, Ernst Fuchs

Ernst Fuchs

Print . 29 x 28 x 1 cm Print . 11.4 x 11 x 0.4 inch

€2,260

Painting, Abstract Flock, Mark Tobey

Mark Tobey

Painting . 29.5 x 21.5 x 0.1 cm Painting . 11.6 x 8.5 x 0 inch

€12,000

Fine Art Drawings, Untitled, Adam Sabhan

Adam Sabhan

Fine Art Drawings . 30 x 40 cm Fine Art Drawings . 11.8 x 15.7 inch

€800

Print, Venice, Giovanni Korompay

Giovanni Korompay

Print . 50 x 35.5 x 0.2 cm Print . 19.7 x 14 x 0.1 inch

€650

Print, Untitled - 1, Man Ray

Man Ray

Print . 49 x 34.5 cm Print . 19.3 x 13.6 inch

€900

Fine Art Drawings, Sans titre, Mino Maccari

Mino Maccari

Fine Art Drawings . 32.5 x 22.5 x 0.1 cm Fine Art Drawings . 12.8 x 8.9 x 0 inch

€580

Print, Migration, Georges Braque

Georges Braque

Print . 48 x 37.5 x 0.2 cm Print . 18.9 x 14.8 x 0.1 inch

€3,200

Print, Untitled, Meret Oppenheim

Meret Oppenheim

Print . 31.5 x 48 cm Print . 12.4 x 18.9 inch

€1,500

Print, Coils 24, Matt Neuman

Matt Neuman

Print . 41 x 41 cm Print . 16.1 x 16.1 inch

€850

Print, Istanbul I, Sukran Ulucan

Sukran Ulucan

Print . 49 x 30 x 0.3 cm Print . 19.3 x 11.8 x 0.1 inch

€650

Print, The Kiss, Salvador Dali

Salvador Dali

Print . 40 x 25 x 0.2 cm Print . 15.7 x 9.8 x 0.1 inch

€1,500

Print, Tiger, Rebecca Whitewood

Rebecca Whitewood

Print . 30 x 25 x 2 cm Print . 11.8 x 9.8 x 0.8 inch

€1,900