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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Painting, The Guardian, Helen Spoon

Helen Spoon

Painting . 35 x 25 x 0.5 cm Painting . 13.8 x 9.8 x 0.2 inch

€402

Painting, Summer, Pol Ledent

Pol Ledent

Painting . 40 x 40 x 4 cm Painting . 15.7 x 15.7 x 1.6 inch

€350

Print, Homme plante, David Vanadia

David Vanadia

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

€140

Print, Genus Lunaria, Hugh Turvey

Hugh Turvey

Print . 40.64 x 49 x 1 cm Print . 16 x 19.3 x 0.4 inch

€791

Painting, Orchid, Michael Grine

Michael Grine

Painting . 25.7 x 20.6 x 3.2 cm Painting . 10.125 x 8.125 x 1.25 inch

€268

Fine Art Drawings, Deconstruction, Nagsoul

Nagsoul

Fine Art Drawings . 26 x 36 x 3 cm Fine Art Drawings . 10.2 x 14.2 x 1.2 inch

€500

Fine Art Drawings, Golden dragonflies, Guzel Min

Guzel Min

Fine Art Drawings . 42 x 10 x 0.1 cm Fine Art Drawings . 16.5 x 3.9 x 0 inch

€210

Painting, Orange Sun, Ksenia Tsyganyuk

Ksenia Tsyganyuk

Painting . 30 x 30 x 1.6 cm Painting . 11.8 x 11.8 x 0.6 inch

€410

Painting, Depth, Helen Burkova

Helen Burkova

Painting . 30 x 30 x 2 cm Painting . 11.8 x 11.8 x 0.8 inch

€357

Painting, Spring Voices, Olga Petiuk

Olga Petiuk

Painting . 30 x 30 x 1.5 cm Painting . 11.8 x 11.8 x 0.6 inch

€300

Print, Valiant, Leni Acosta Knight

Leni Acosta Knight

Print . 27.94 x 35.56 x 3 cm Print . 11 x 14 x 1.2 inch

€700

Photography, Arcoíris, Rodrigo

Rodrigo

Photography . 32.3 x 43.1 x 0.1 cm Photography . 12.7 x 17 x 0 inch

€1,599

Painting, Pink Lilies, Pavlenko Leonid

Pavlenko Leonid

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

€365

Painting, Tranquil Mojave, Lisa Elley

Lisa Elley

Painting . 30.5 x 30.5 x 3.8 cm Painting . 12 x 12 x 1.5 inch

€442

Painting, Sulap II, Peter de Boer

Peter de Boer

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

€350

Painting, Sunlight, Pol Ledent

Pol Ledent

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

€350

Painting, Summer Noon, Iryna Bondar

Iryna Bondar

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

€500

Painting, Copper Vessels, Iryna Bondar

Iryna Bondar

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

€500

Painting, Autumn flowers, Simon Kozhin

Simon Kozhin

Painting . 20 x 30 x 0.3 cm Painting . 7.9 x 11.8 x 0.1 inch

€3,400

Painting, Flowers, Iglesias15680

Iglesias15680

Painting . 41.5 x 29.5 x 0.1 cm Painting . 16.3 x 11.6 x 0 inch

€700

Painting, Water lily, Hoang Phuong

Hoang Phuong

Painting . 30 x 39.9 x 3 cm Painting . 11.8 x 15.7 x 1.2 inch

€536

Sculpture, Old Tree, Tom Alexis Robert

Tom Alexis Robert

Sculpture . 31.5 x 40 x 32 cm Sculpture . 12.4 x 15.7 x 12.6 inch

€500

Photography, Breathe silently, Shulan Wang

Shulan Wang

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

€800

Photography, Béguin, Catherine Fabre

Catherine Fabre

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

€450