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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Sculpture, Hexagon, George Koutsouris

George Koutsouris

Sculpture . 44 x 44 x 10 cm Sculpture . 17.3 x 17.3 x 3.9 inch

€700

Painting, Red Shemp, Dwayne Wolff

Dwayne Wolff

Painting . 30.5 x 30.5 x 2.5 cm Painting . 12 x 12 x 1 inch

€546

Painting, Effet vers sens, Veroe

Veroe

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

€240

Painting, Glicine, Alexander Daniloff

Alexander Daniloff

Painting . 21 x 28 x 0.1 cm Painting . 8.3 x 11 x 0 inch

€97 €83

Photography, Poolside Pairs, Slim Aarons

Slim Aarons

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

€2,850

Painting, Palermo 2, Claudia Coccina

Claudia Coccina

Painting . 41 x 32 x 2 cm Painting . 16.1 x 12.6 x 0.8 inch

€250

Painting, Desire to live, Iryna Burda

Iryna Burda

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

€350

Painting, Morning Mist, KatriTa

KatriTa

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

€455

Painting, Distant Shore, KatriTa

KatriTa

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

€455

Painting, Village Well, Suprunchuk Yuriy

Suprunchuk Yuriy

Painting . 30 x 40 x 2 cm Painting . 11.8 x 15.7 x 0.8 inch

€315 €221

Painting, White Temple, Ivan Pylypenko

Ivan Pylypenko

Painting . 30 x 40 x 2 cm Painting . 11.8 x 15.7 x 0.8 inch

€364

Painting, Estrellita, Almo

Almo

Painting . 34.8 x 24.9 x 0.3 cm Painting . 13.7 x 9.8 x 0.1 inch

€728

Painting, Sometimes, Almo

Almo

Painting . 34.8 x 24.9 x 0.3 cm Painting . 13.7 x 9.8 x 0.1 inch

€728

Sculpture, Rainbow, Lili P

Lili P

Sculpture . 34 x 17 x 9 cm Sculpture . 13.4 x 6.7 x 3.5 inch

€6,036

Painting, High water, Ivan Pylypenko

Ivan Pylypenko

Painting . 30 x 40 x 2 cm Painting . 11.8 x 15.7 x 0.8 inch

€318

Painting, Warm summer, Ivan Pylypenko

Ivan Pylypenko

Painting . 30 x 40 x 2 cm Painting . 11.8 x 15.7 x 0.8 inch

€319

Painting, Summer, Ivan Pylypenko

Ivan Pylypenko

Painting . 30 x 40 x 2 cm Painting . 11.8 x 15.7 x 0.8 inch

€319

Painting, U.F.I #2, Câline Farah

Câline Farah

Painting . 30 x 30 x 2.3 cm Painting . 11.8 x 11.8 x 0.9 inch

€364

Painting, L'arbre, Christophe Thiry

Christophe Thiry

Painting . 27 x 19 x 2 cm Painting . 10.6 x 7.5 x 0.8 inch

€1,000

Painting, Bath day, Simon Kozhin

Simon Kozhin

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

€2,700

Painting, Sbc 242, Susan Cantrick

Susan Cantrick

Painting . 40 x 40 cm Painting . 15.7 x 15.7 inch

€732

Fine Art Drawings, Promenade #2, Alison Hirst Lebegue

Alison Hirst Lebegue

Fine Art Drawings . 29.7 x 42 x 0.5 cm Fine Art Drawings . 11.7 x 16.5 x 0.2 inch

€220

Painting, Autumn Talks/8, Helen Mount

Helen Mount

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

€500