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, Winter motif, M. Kogan-Shatz

M. Kogan-Shatz

Painting . 49 x 49 x 2 cm Painting . 19.3 x 19.3 x 0.8 inch

€999

Painting, Green afternoon, Ewa Adams

Ewa Adams

Painting . 30 x 30 x 4 cm Painting . 11.8 x 11.8 x 1.6 inch

€875

Painting, Le Refuge, Alex Claude

Alex Claude

Painting . 30 x 25.5 x 1 cm Painting . 11.8 x 10 x 0.4 inch

€300

Painting, Atlantic Roses, Micowel

Micowel

Painting . 20.3 x 30.5 x 0.3 cm Painting . 8 x 12 x 0.1 inch

€1,200

Fine Art Drawings, Snow, Simon Kozhin

Simon Kozhin

Fine Art Drawings . 20 x 30 x 0.1 cm Fine Art Drawings . 7.9 x 11.8 x 0 inch

€2,400

Painting, Vers verd, David Casals

David Casals

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

€1,050

Painting, Chemin des bois, F. Perloux

F. Perloux

Painting . 25 x 33.5 x 0.5 cm Painting . 9.8 x 13.2 x 0.2 inch

€1,017

Painting, Autumnal  II, Nelli Tsenova

Nelli Tsenova

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

€920

Painting, Reboot, Helen Burkova

Helen Burkova

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

€812

Painting, Elle habite au 6, Micowel

Micowel

Painting . 20.3 x 30.5 x 0.3 cm Painting . 8 x 12 x 0.1 inch

€800

Print, La limite, Philippe Monnet

Philippe Monnet

Print . 29.7 x 42 x 0.1 cm Print . 11.7 x 16.5 x 0 inch

€150

Painting, Bamboo Forest, Lexi Caiqin

Lexi Caiqin

Painting . 40 x 50 x 3 cm Painting . 15.7 x 19.7 x 1.2 inch

€5,700

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

€994

Painting, Pink City, Micowel

Micowel

Painting . 20.3 x 30.5 x 0.3 cm Painting . 8 x 12 x 0.1 inch

€800

Painting, Gurzuf, Vladimir Batrakov

Vladimir Batrakov

Painting . 30 x 42 x 2 cm Painting . 11.8 x 16.5 x 0.8 inch

€255

Fine Art Drawings, Trees, André Roland Brudieux

André Roland Brudieux

Fine Art Drawings . 37.5 x 32.5 x 0.1 cm Fine Art Drawings . 14.8 x 12.8 x 0 inch

€550

Painting, Estrats, David Casals

David Casals

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

€1,050

Photography, Eternal sleeping, Shulan Wang

Shulan Wang

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

€1,400

Painting, September, Janusz Szpyt

Janusz Szpyt

Painting . 23 x 45 cm Painting . 9.1 x 17.7 inch

€800

Painting, Caminant, David Casals

David Casals

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

€1,050

Painting, Vache Blanche, Micowel

Micowel

Painting . 20.3 x 30.5 x 0.3 cm Painting . 8 x 12 x 0.1 inch

€1,200

Painting, Sunny Forest, Kovalenko Ivan

Kovalenko Ivan

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

€300

Painting, Otoño, Svetlana Zhirnova

Svetlana Zhirnova

Painting . 50 x 40 x 2.5 cm Painting . 19.7 x 15.7 x 1 inch

€1,800

Painting, Trees, Oleg Litvinov

Oleg Litvinov

Painting . 35 x 48 x 2 cm Painting . 13.8 x 18.9 x 0.8 inch

€270

Painting, Vache Rose, Micowel

Micowel

Painting . 20.3 x 30.5 x 0.3 cm Painting . 8 x 12 x 0.1 inch

€1,200

Painting, Landscape, Mitko Dimitrov

Mitko Dimitrov

Painting . 43.5 x 36 x 2 cm Painting . 17.1 x 14.2 x 0.8 inch

€380

Painting, White little roses, Micowel

Micowel

Painting . 20.3 x 30.5 x 0.3 cm Painting . 8 x 12 x 0.1 inch

€1,200