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, Lory, James Jean

James Jean

Print . 35.6 x 28 x 0.2 cm Print . 14 x 11 x 0.1 inch

€2,000

Print, Sadness Eraser, tizlu

tizlu

Print . 50 x 40 x 0.2 cm Print . 19.7 x 15.7 x 0.1 inch

€450

Photography, Freedom, Rodrigo

Rodrigo

Photography . 26.7 x 35.6 x 0.1 cm Photography . 10.5 x 14 x 0 inch

€1,999

Photography, Supernova, Brooke Shaden

Brooke Shaden

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

€2,400

Photography, Morning Sun, Rodrigo

Rodrigo

Photography . 27.1 x 19.4 x 0.1 cm Photography . 10.7 x 7.6 x 0 inch

€1,999

Photography, Circus, Katerina Belkina

Katerina Belkina

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

€1,794

Photography, Two sisters, Cristina Fontsare

Cristina Fontsare

Photography . 30 x 38 x 0.1 cm Photography . 11.8 x 15 x 0 inch

€1,200

Print, Flora, Irena Aizen

Irena Aizen

Print . 50 x 48 x 2.5 cm Print . 19.7 x 18.9 x 1 inch

€1,160

Photography, lnvolucruM, Louis Blanc

Louis Blanc

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

€900

Print, Bio mimétisme, Maye

Maye

Print . 45 x 32 x 0.1 cm Print . 17.7 x 12.6 x 0 inch

€800

Photography, Black Hand, Léa Bon

Léa Bon

Photography . 30.5 x 46.2 x 0.3 cm Photography . 12 x 18.2 x 0.1 inch

€1,615

Photography, Good Morning America, Rodrigo

Rodrigo

Photography . 26.7 x 40 x 0.1 cm Photography . 10.5 x 15.7 x 0 inch

€1,999

Photography, Couple Embrace, Tony Potts

Tony Potts

Photography . 50.8 x 40.6 cm Photography . 20 x 16 inch

€1,704

Photography, Aire glacière, Marie VDB

Marie VDB

Photography . 40 x 40 cm Photography . 15.7 x 15.7 inch

€800

Print, Bubles, Nicole Tijoux

Nicole Tijoux

Print . 42.8 x 50 x 0.3 cm Print . 16.9 x 19.7 x 0.1 inch

€250

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

Print, Hands On, Albert Oehlen

Albert Oehlen

Print . 34 x 50 cm Print . 13.4 x 19.7 inch

€590

Print, The Great Beyond, tizlu

tizlu

Print . 40 x 50 x 0.1 cm Print . 15.7 x 19.7 x 0 inch

€380

Photography, Souvenir V, Romain Liverato

Romain Liverato

Photography . 44 x 44 x 0.5 cm Photography . 17.3 x 17.3 x 0.2 inch

€1,100

Photography, De otra época, Tere Duro

Tere Duro

Photography . 27 x 40 cm Photography . 10.6 x 15.7 inch

€875

Photography, Eux deux, Bogdan Kotewicz

Bogdan Kotewicz

Photography . 50 x 50 x 0.3 cm Photography . 19.7 x 19.7 x 0.1 inch

€1,200

Photography, Formaggi, Nilgun Sezgin

Nilgun Sezgin

Photography . 45 x 30 x 0.1 cm Photography . 17.7 x 11.8 x 0 inch

€240

Print, 221215, Wang Guangle

Wang Guangle

Print . 49 x 38 x 2 cm Print . 19.3 x 15 x 0.8 inch

€7,500

Print, Cactus, Joanna Gebal

Joanna Gebal

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

€170

Photography, Ainsi Pont, Vivien Raynal

Vivien Raynal

Photography . 20 x 30 x 1 cm Photography . 7.9 x 11.8 x 0.4 inch

€350

Photography, Vase 7, Feng Wang

Feng Wang

Photography . 50 x 50 x 1 cm Photography . 19.7 x 19.7 x 0.4 inch

€1,200

Photography, Boxe, Sophie Inard

Sophie Inard

Photography . 23.5 x 33.5 cm Photography . 9.3 x 13.2 inch

€600

Print, Love is the key, Onemizer

Onemizer

Print . 50 x 40 x 0.1 cm Print . 19.7 x 15.7 x 0 inch

€800

Print, Urban art, Shadee K

Shadee K

Print . 33 x 48.3 x 0.3 cm Print . 13 x 19 x 0.1 inch

€200

Print, Submission, Nigel Howlett

Nigel Howlett

Print . 46.99 x 41.6 x 1 cm Print . 18.5 x 16.4 x 0.4 inch

€4,037

Print, Cherry Kate, Batik

Batik

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

€1,200

Photography, Karaoke, Camille Levert

Camille Levert

Photography . 50 x 50 x 7 cm Photography . 19.7 x 19.7 x 2.8 inch

€5,500

Print, Geisha with spray, Rizek

Rizek

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

€500

Print, Fusion, Natalia Naumova

Natalia Naumova

Print . 50 x 40 x 1.7 cm Print . 19.7 x 15.7 x 0.7 inch

€359

Print, The one for Five, Wait

Wait

Print . 20 x 30 x 1 cm Print . 7.9 x 11.8 x 0.4 inch

€220

Print, Nine Squares, Yaacov Agam

Yaacov Agam

Print . 35.6 x 35.6 cm Print . 14 x 14 inch

€3,140