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, Submission, Nigel Howlett

Nigel Howlett

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

€4,018

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, Mur de Berlin, Jacques Witt

Jacques Witt

Photography . 40 x 26 x 1 cm Photography . 15.7 x 10.2 x 0.4 inch

€800

Photography, Limitless, Brooke Shaden

Brooke Shaden

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

€2,500

Print, Moda italiana, Lucio Monaco

Lucio Monaco

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

€169

Photography, Ascension, Bilal Aouffen

Bilal Aouffen

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

€1,400

Print, Bio mimétisme, Maye

Maye

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

€450

Print, No Need To Hide, tizlu

tizlu

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

€350

Print, Hope Of Deliverance, tizlu

tizlu

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

€350

Print, Fly Over Wide Fields, tizlu

tizlu

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

€350

Photography, Desapego, Rocio Villanueva

Rocio Villanueva

Photography . 38.1 x 38.1 cm Photography . 15 x 15 inch

€1,200

Photography, Tropics, Rodrigo

Rodrigo

Photography . 35.6 x 23.4 x 0.1 cm Photography . 14 x 9.2 x 0 inch

€1,750 €1,575

Print, Tout en un, Philippe Geluck

Philippe Geluck

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

€150

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, The Great Beyond, tizlu

tizlu

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

€380

Photography, Circus, Katerina Belkina

Katerina Belkina

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

€1,786

Print, Cherry Kate, Batik

Batik

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

€1,200

Print, Van Halen, Lynn Goldsmith

Lynn Goldsmith

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

€3,125

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

Photography, Boxe, Sophie Inard

Sophie Inard

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

€600

Print, Sadness Eraser, tizlu

tizlu

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

€450 €405

Print, Volare, tizlu

tizlu

Print . 50 x 30 x 0.1 cm Print . 19.7 x 11.8 x 0 inch

€350

Print, Poison Ivy, Flavio Solo

Flavio Solo

Print . 50 x 50 x 0.01 cm Print . 19.7 x 19.7 x 0 inch

€340

Print, Drifting, tizlu

tizlu

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

€350

Print, Serigraphie I, Piotre

Piotre

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

€450

Photography, Luminescence, Martin Kallay

Martin Kallay

Photography . 45 x 30 x 1 cm Photography . 17.7 x 11.8 x 0.4 inch

€1,200

Photography, Austin Road, Nathaniel Foster

Nathaniel Foster

Photography . 45 x 30 x 2 cm Photography . 17.7 x 11.8 x 0.8 inch

€2,200

Photography, The Mist, Shulan Wang

Shulan Wang

Photography . 30 x 45 x 1 cm Photography . 11.8 x 17.7 x 0.4 inch

€1,000

Photography, Strike, Rodrigo

Rodrigo

Photography . 27.1 x 35.1 x 0.1 cm Photography . 10.7 x 13.8 x 0 inch

€1,299

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

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

€300