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…

Read more
Print, Lagoon, Leszek Rózga

Leszek Rózga

Print . 32 x 24 cm Print . 12.6 x 9.4 inch

€700

Painting, A glass vase, Janusz Szpyt

Janusz Szpyt

Painting . 47 x 36 cm Painting . 18.5 x 14.2 inch

€1,300 €1,170

Fine Art Drawings, L'arbre 4, Martial Raysse

Martial Raysse

Fine Art Drawings . 30 x 24 cm Fine Art Drawings . 11.8 x 9.4 inch

€4,800

Fine Art Drawings, Tropical flora, Frank De Blok

Frank De Blok

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

€220

Fine Art Drawings, Herbal Fantasy, Frank De Blok

Frank De Blok

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

€220

Fine Art Drawings, Fantasy leaves, Frank De Blok

Frank De Blok

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

€220

Photography, Symétrie, Catherine Fabre

Catherine Fabre

Photography . 40 x 30 x 0.1 cm Photography . 15.7 x 11.8 x 0 inch

€450

Painting, Spring flowers, Pol Ledent

Pol Ledent

Painting . 50 x 40 x 2 cm Painting . 19.7 x 15.7 x 0.8 inch

€650

Painting, Fall Vortex, Khrystyna Kozyuk

Khrystyna Kozyuk

Painting . 48 x 48 x 1.5 cm Painting . 18.9 x 18.9 x 0.6 inch

€4,200

Painting, Peonies, Olga Ponomarenko

Olga Ponomarenko

Painting . 50 x 50 x 2 cm Painting . 19.7 x 19.7 x 0.8 inch

€1,468

Painting, Florence, Olga Ponomarenko

Olga Ponomarenko

Painting . 40 x 50 x 2 cm Painting . 15.7 x 19.7 x 0.8 inch

€1,377

Painting, Arbre, Xiu

Xiu

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

€600

Painting, Summerfield joy, Ann Dunbar

Ann Dunbar

Painting . 21 x 30 x 0.1 cm Painting . 8.3 x 11.8 x 0 inch

€700

Painting, Echanted garden, Pol Ledent

Pol Ledent

Painting . 50 x 50 x 2 cm Painting . 19.7 x 19.7 x 0.8 inch

€550

Painting, Lilac, Maksym Kisilov

Maksym Kisilov

Painting . 29 x 40.9 x 2.5 cm Painting . 11.4 x 16.1 x 1 inch

€642

Painting, Dolls, Magdalena Spasowicz

Magdalena Spasowicz

Painting . 30 x 42 cm Painting . 11.8 x 16.5 inch

€900

Painting, Before winter, Xiaoyang Galas

Xiaoyang Galas

Painting . 50 x 39.9 x 3.8 cm Painting . 19.7 x 15.7 x 1.5 inch

€1,551

Painting, Floral Harmony, Grace Diehl

Grace Diehl

Painting . 27.9 x 35.6 x 1.8 cm Painting . 11 x 14 x 0.7 inch

€847

Painting, Shadows, Charlotte Lenssen

Charlotte Lenssen

Painting . 46.9 x 35.5 x 4.4 cm Painting . 18.5 x 14 x 1.7 inch

€1,121

Painting, Gardens Blossoms, Yehor Dulin

Yehor Dulin

Painting . 35 x 45 x 1.8 cm Painting . 13.8 x 17.7 x 0.7 inch

€551

Painting, Pollen II, Michael Grine

Michael Grine

Painting . 35.6 x 27.9 x 0.3 cm Painting . 14 x 11 x 0.1 inch

€367

Painting, Iris 1, Evgeniya Brits

Evgeniya Brits

Painting . 50 x 50 x 1.5 cm Painting . 19.7 x 19.7 x 0.6 inch

€800

Painting, Rosa Violeta, Evgeniya Brits

Evgeniya Brits

Painting . 50 x 50 x 1.5 cm Painting . 19.7 x 19.7 x 0.6 inch

€800

Painting, Waiting for Time, Lucy Cobern

Lucy Cobern

Painting . 33.5 x 42 x 0.1 cm Painting . 13.2 x 16.5 x 0 inch

€4,000

Fine Art Drawings, Dondi flower, Lassana Sarr

Lassana Sarr

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

€900

Photography, Endless life, Shulan Wang

Shulan Wang

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

€1,400

Painting, B & W, Tetiana Chubukova

Tetiana Chubukova

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

€918

Painting, Lotus, Li Dongfeng

Li Dongfeng

Painting . 33 x 33 x 1 cm Painting . 13 x 13 x 0.4 inch

€600

Sculpture, Felt Hawthorn, Emma Levine

Emma Levine

Sculpture . 45 x 45 cm Sculpture . 17.7 x 17.7 inch

€2,537

Painting, Floral, Delia Solari

Delia Solari

Painting . 45 x 35 x 2 cm Painting . 17.7 x 13.8 x 0.8 inch

€5,506

15/46