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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Fine Art Drawings, The Blues Boss, Jay Russell

Jay Russell

Fine Art Drawings . 35.6 x 27.9 x 5.1 cm Fine Art Drawings . 14 x 11 x 2 inch

€2,124

Fine Art Drawings, L'art de la joie, Clémence Wach

Clémence Wach

Fine Art Drawings . 27 x 35 x 0.5 cm Fine Art Drawings . 10.6 x 13.8 x 0.2 inch

€1,000

Fine Art Drawings, La Libia, Gabriele Galantara

Gabriele Galantara

Fine Art Drawings . 29 x 24.5 x 0.1 cm Fine Art Drawings . 11.4 x 9.6 x 0 inch

€1,100

Painting, Pink Dip, Katherine Russell

Katherine Russell

Painting . 50 x 50 x 2.5 cm Painting . 19.7 x 19.7 x 1 inch

€950

Fine Art Drawings, Family Happiness, Hilda Vika

Hilda Vika

Fine Art Drawings . 29.5 x 28 x 0.1 cm Fine Art Drawings . 11.6 x 11 x 0 inch

€5,720

Painting, Lungo il Ticino, Luigi Comolli

Luigi Comolli

Painting . 39.5 x 49.7 x 0.5 cm Painting . 15.6 x 19.6 x 0.2 inch

€1,002

Sculpture, Masque 4, Alicia Coste

Alicia Coste

Sculpture . 45.7 x 35.5 x 2 cm Sculpture . 18 x 14 x 0.8 inch

€500

Painting, Barcelona, A. G.

A. G.

Painting . 23.5 x 33 x 0.5 cm Painting . 9.3 x 13 x 0.2 inch

€1,366

Painting, Paysans au champ, I. G.

I. G.

Painting . 20 x 35 x 0.5 cm Painting . 7.9 x 13.8 x 0.2 inch

€1,810

Painting, Sun family, Leobardo Huerta

Leobardo Huerta

Painting . 34.3 x 27.9 x 0.3 cm Painting . 13.5 x 11 x 0.1 inch

€885

Fine Art Drawings, Untitled, Maka Batiashvili

Maka Batiashvili

Fine Art Drawings . 37 x 25 x 0.1 cm Fine Art Drawings . 14.6 x 9.8 x 0 inch

€350

Painting, Sophia Loren, Sid Maurer

Sid Maurer

Painting . 43.2 x 33.7 cm Painting . 17 x 13.25 inch

€2,655

Fine Art Drawings, Ma petite, Miquel Wert

Miquel Wert

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

€1,150

Fine Art Drawings, London, Jo Little

Jo Little

Fine Art Drawings . 40 x 30 x 0.01 cm Fine Art Drawings . 15.7 x 11.8 x 0 inch

€800

Sculpture, Somptueuse, Déesse

Déesse

Sculpture . 42 x 7 x 5 cm Sculpture . 16.5 x 2.8 x 2 inch

€495

Print, Hoop Dreams, Jack Moore

Jack Moore

Print . 50 x 42 x 2.54 cm Print . 19.7 x 16.5 x 1 inch

€1,106

Painting, Sans titre, Jean Rustin

Jean Rustin

Painting . 41 x 27 x 2 cm Painting . 16.1 x 10.6 x 0.8 inch

€11,000

Sculpture, Woman in the Wind, Bob Clyatt

Bob Clyatt

Sculpture . 43.2 x 30.5 x 27.9 cm Sculpture . 17 x 12 x 11 inch

€7,435

Fine Art Drawings, Last Supper, Renzo Vespignani

Renzo Vespignani

Fine Art Drawings . 30 x 22 x 0.2 cm Fine Art Drawings . 11.8 x 8.7 x 0.1 inch

€1,800

Fine Art Drawings, Mucha, Ramon Maiden

Ramon Maiden

Fine Art Drawings . 43.5 x 28 cm Fine Art Drawings . 17.1 x 11 inch

€750

Photography, Plane, Bridgeman

Bridgeman

Photography . 30 x 30 x 0.1 cm Photography . 11.8 x 11.8 x 0 inch

€240

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

Fine Art Drawings, Me, Léa Dedieu

Me

Léa Dedieu

Fine Art Drawings . 32 x 24 x 0.2 cm Fine Art Drawings . 12.6 x 9.4 x 0.1 inch

€190

Sculpture, Dino n°1, Pierre Voituriez

Pierre Voituriez

Sculpture . 33 x 19 x 30 cm Sculpture . 13 x 7.5 x 11.8 inch

€3,200

Fine Art Drawings, Composition, Sandro Chia

Sandro Chia

Fine Art Drawings . 39 x 29 cm Fine Art Drawings . 15.4 x 11.4 inch

€10,000

Fine Art Drawings, Barb - 06, Barberousse

Barberousse

Fine Art Drawings . 22.2 x 31.8 x 0.3 cm Fine Art Drawings . 8.7 x 12.5 x 0.1 inch

€350

Painting, Visions, Johnathan Ball

Johnathan Ball

Painting . 50.8 x 48.3 cm Painting . 20 x 19 inch

€3,541

Sculpture, Le moustique, Pierre Ledda

Pierre Ledda

Sculpture . 39 x 27 x 22 cm Sculpture . 15.4 x 10.6 x 8.7 inch

€1,800

Painting, Study, James Ulmer

James Ulmer

Painting . 30.48 x 22.86 x 2 cm Painting . 12 x 9 x 0.8 inch

€4,426

Print, Vintage Port, Nobu Haihara

Nobu Haihara

Print . 43.2 x 25.4 x 5.1 cm Print . 17 x 10 x 2 inch

€1,018

Fine Art Drawings, Girl, Nino Cordio

Nino Cordio

Fine Art Drawings . 44.5 x 31 x 0.2 cm Fine Art Drawings . 17.5 x 12.2 x 0.1 inch

€550

Fine Art Drawings, Portrait, Serge Fontinsky

Serge Fontinsky

Fine Art Drawings . 35.5 x 23.6 x 0.3 cm Fine Art Drawings . 14 x 9.3 x 0.1 inch

€580

Painting, Exposed, Papayon

Papayon

Painting . 43.2 x 43.2 x 2.5 cm Painting . 17 x 17 x 1 inch

€700

Sculpture, Grues du Japon, Guy Lioult

Guy Lioult

Sculpture . 24 x 39 x 12 cm Sculpture . 9.4 x 15.4 x 4.7 inch

€6,500

Painting, Majorca, Josep Meneses

Josep Meneses

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

€800

Painting, Woman at work, Julie Wende

Julie Wende

Painting . 40.6 x 30.5 x 0.8 cm Painting . 16 x 12 x 0.3 inch

€792

Painting, N°3, Masayoshi Hanawa

Masayoshi Hanawa

Painting . 30 x 21 cm Painting . 11.8 x 8.3 inch

€750

Painting, Waves, Livia Mosanu

Livia Mosanu

Painting . 30.5 x 30.5 x 2 cm Painting . 12 x 12 x 0.8 inch

€456

Painting, Hera, Iryna Perova

Iryna Perova

Painting . 30 x 40 x 0.5 cm Painting . 11.8 x 15.7 x 0.2 inch

€1,815

Fine Art Drawings, Torrent, Bob Palmerton

Bob Palmerton

Fine Art Drawings . 30.5 x 45.7 x 1.3 cm Fine Art Drawings . 12 x 18 x 0.5 inch

€1,434

Fine Art Drawings, Embrace, Elizabeth Becker

Elizabeth Becker

Fine Art Drawings . 50.8 x 40.6 cm Fine Art Drawings . 20 x 16 inch

€186

Sculpture, Paloma, Marie-Louise Sorbac

Marie-Louise Sorbac

Sculpture . 26 x 25 x 21 cm Sculpture . 10.2 x 9.8 x 8.3 inch

€6,600

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