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, Lick me, Sancko

Sancko

Print . 30 x 30 cm Print . 11.8 x 11.8 inch

€65

Print, Muscle, Pamelito

Pamelito

Print . 50 x 40 x 0.05 cm Print . 19.7 x 15.7 x 0 inch

€130

Print, Absinthe, Didier Hamey

Didier Hamey

Print . 32 x 28 cm Print . 12.6 x 11 inch

€470

Fine Art Drawings, Untitled (22), Mansour El Habre

Mansour El Habre

Fine Art Drawings . 30 x 21 x 1 cm Fine Art Drawings . 11.8 x 8.3 x 0.4 inch

€700

Fine Art Drawings, Untitled (75), Mansour El Habre

Mansour El Habre

Fine Art Drawings . 30 x 21 x 1 cm Fine Art Drawings . 11.8 x 8.3 x 0.4 inch

€700

Fine Art Drawings, Country Man, Nina Narimanishvili

Nina Narimanishvili

Fine Art Drawings . 22 x 28 x 0.1 cm Fine Art Drawings . 8.7 x 11 x 0 inch

€370

Photography, Elton John, Richard Unglick

Richard Unglick

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

€60

Fine Art Drawings, A(A-Un), Tomo Sakurai

Tomo Sakurai

Fine Art Drawings . 30 x 21 x 0.1 cm Fine Art Drawings . 11.8 x 8.3 x 0 inch

€600

Print, Napalm, Studio Abawé

Studio Abawé

Print . 29 x 20 cm Print . 11.4 x 7.9 inch

€40

Fine Art Drawings, Untitled (66), Mansour El Habre

Mansour El Habre

Fine Art Drawings . 30 x 21 x 1 cm Fine Art Drawings . 11.8 x 8.3 x 0.4 inch

€700

Fine Art Drawings, Figura, 1979, Paolo Ambrosio

Paolo Ambrosio

Fine Art Drawings . 50 x 35 x 0.1 cm Fine Art Drawings . 19.7 x 13.8 x 0 inch

€120

Fine Art Drawings, Ragazzo, 1975, Paolo Ambrosio

Paolo Ambrosio

Fine Art Drawings . 50 x 35 x 2 cm Fine Art Drawings . 19.7 x 13.8 x 0.8 inch

€150

Fine Art Drawings, Pastel 2, Ivan Peev

Ivan Peev

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

€120

Print, The Recorder, Fred Borghesi

Fred Borghesi

Print . 30 x 30 x 0.5 cm Print . 11.8 x 11.8 x 0.2 inch

€450

Fine Art Drawings, She Unknown, Nino Eliashvili

Nino Eliashvili

Fine Art Drawings . 31.5 x 29.5 x 0.1 cm Fine Art Drawings . 12.4 x 11.6 x 0 inch

€400

Print, Medusa Butterfly, B.AX

B.AX

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

€250

Painting, Peacefull man, Odin Pigelet

Odin Pigelet

Painting . 41 x 33 x 2 cm Painting . 16.1 x 13 x 0.8 inch

€190

Print, Brexit new, Olir Romanelli

Olir Romanelli

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

€70

Painting, Unknown, Claire Szilard

Claire Szilard

Painting . 34.3 x 24.1 x 5.1 cm Painting . 13.5 x 9.5 x 2 inch

€226

Fine Art Drawings, Pastel 3, Ivan Peev

Ivan Peev

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

€120

Fine Art Drawings, Moka, Odin Pigelet

Odin Pigelet

Fine Art Drawings . 42 x 29 x 0.1 cm Fine Art Drawings . 16.5 x 11.4 x 0 inch

€100

Print, Third Eye, Jibé

Jibé

Print . 50 x 50 cm Print . 19.7 x 19.7 inch

€100

Photography, YSL, Richard Unglick

YSL

Richard Unglick

Photography . 24 x 36 x 0.5 cm Photography . 9.4 x 14.2 x 0.2 inch

€60

Photography, Hip Hop, Richard Unglick

Richard Unglick

Photography . 24 x 36 x 0.5 cm Photography . 9.4 x 14.2 x 0.2 inch

€60

Photography, Johnny, Richard Unglick

Richard Unglick

Photography . 24 x 36 x 0.5 cm Photography . 9.4 x 14.2 x 0.2 inch

€60

Photography, Hamlet, Richard Unglick

Richard Unglick

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

€60

Photography, 2pac, Richard Unglick

Richard Unglick

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

€60

Photography, Pulp Fiction, Richard Unglick

Richard Unglick

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

€60

Photography, Abba, Richard Unglick

Richard Unglick

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

€160

Print, Liberty Cap, Richard Levine

Richard Levine

Print . 40 x 40 x 0.01 cm Print . 15.7 x 15.7 x 0 inch

€235

Fine Art Drawings, Sans titre, Alexandre Moulis

Alexandre Moulis

Fine Art Drawings . 30 x 20 x 1 cm Fine Art Drawings . 11.8 x 7.9 x 0.4 inch

€250

Sculpture, Waiting For Luv, Ly

Ly

Sculpture . 33 x 30.5 x 30.5 cm Sculpture . 13 x 12 x 12 inch

€1,800

Print, Foundness, Yoon Hyung-Taek

Yoon Hyung-Taek

Print . 40 x 33 x 2 cm Print . 15.7 x 13 x 0.8 inch

€900

Print, Pubertà, André Masson

André Masson

Print . 48 x 34 x 0.5 cm Print . 18.9 x 13.4 x 0.2 inch

€800

Sculpture, A Lady VII, Stan Wysocki

Stan Wysocki

Sculpture . 44 x 15 x 9 cm Sculpture . 17.3 x 5.9 x 3.5 inch

€2,500

Fine Art Drawings, Model Mariam, Helen Khal

Helen Khal

Fine Art Drawings . 32 x 22 cm Fine Art Drawings . 12.6 x 8.7 inch

€13,000

Fine Art Drawings, Nudes, Franciszek Starowieyski

Franciszek Starowieyski

Fine Art Drawings . 29.5 x 42 cm Fine Art Drawings . 11.6 x 16.5 inch

€1,100

Print, Tarzan interrupted, Parra

Parra

Print . 28 x 42 x 2 cm Print . 11 x 16.5 x 0.8 inch

€2,000

Sculpture, Helena III, Nando Kallweit

Nando Kallweit

Sculpture . 37 x 19 x 7 cm Sculpture . 14.6 x 7.5 x 2.8 inch

€1,629

Painting, Upper floor, Victoria General

Victoria General

Painting . 44 x 36 x 3 cm Painting . 17.3 x 14.2 x 1.2 inch

€1,650

Print, Baubo, Roland Topor

Roland Topor

Print . 47 x 38 cm Print . 18.5 x 15 inch

€950

Sculpture, 63, Jérôme Mesnager

63

Jérôme Mesnager

Sculpture . 37.5 x 24 x 24 cm Sculpture . 14.8 x 9.4 x 9.4 inch

€950

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