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
Fine Art Drawings, Broken Button, Claes Oldenburg

Claes Oldenburg

Fine Art Drawings . 41 x 36 x 16 cm Fine Art Drawings . 16.1 x 14.2 x 6.3 inch

€18,743

Painting, Applikation, Andrea Lein

Andrea Lein

Painting . 25 x 32.5 x 0.1 cm Painting . 9.8 x 12.8 x 0 inch

€1,100

Painting, Printemps, Marion Lachant

Marion Lachant

Painting . 50 x 50 x 1.6 cm Painting . 19.7 x 19.7 x 0.6 inch

€300

Painting, Chalets et patûrage, H.Bani

H.Bani

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

€1,107

Painting, Little girl, Morena MoBe

Morena MoBe

Painting . 45 x 35 x 0.3 cm Painting . 17.7 x 13.8 x 0.1 inch

€110

Painting, Bleeding Hearts, Tom Furey

Tom Furey

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

€1,623

Print, Batman, C215

C215

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

€495

Sculpture, Big Bear Porsche, Naor

Naor

Sculpture . 40 x 29 x 33 cm Sculpture . 15.7 x 11.4 x 13 inch

€1,095

Print, Metis, Valerian Lenud

Valerian Lenud

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

€225

Painting, Heart, Katalina Koneva

Katalina Koneva

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

€680

Sculpture, Get out!, Popik

Popik

Sculpture . 26 x 17 x 16 cm Sculpture . 10.2 x 6.7 x 6.3 inch

€500 €400

Painting, En 4, VHE

VHE

Painting . 50 x 50 x 4 cm Painting . 19.7 x 19.7 x 1.6 inch

€250

Fine Art Drawings, Torrent, Bob Palmerton

Bob Palmerton

Fine Art Drawings . 30.5 x 45.7 x 1.3 cm Fine Art Drawings . 12 x 18 x 0.5 inch

€1,481

Painting, März, Rainer Nepita

Rainer Nepita

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

€1,800

Painting, Olamide, Amiolemen Emmanuel

Amiolemen Emmanuel

Painting . 50.8 x 40.6 x 2.5 cm Painting . 20 x 16 x 1 inch

€1,371

Sculpture, Signature I, Hamed ENCS

Hamed ENCS

Sculpture . 25 x 40 x 2 cm Sculpture . 9.8 x 15.7 x 0.8 inch

€1,200

Painting, My Valley, Lauren Acton

Lauren Acton

Painting . 40.6 x 50.8 x 0.8 cm Painting . 16 x 20 x 0.3 inch

€846

Painting, Hong Kong_01, Helal Uddin

Helal Uddin

Painting . 40.6 x 50.8 x 0.3 cm Painting . 16 x 20 x 0.1 inch

€1,126

Painting, Irises, Eric Santoli

Eric Santoli

Painting . 50.8 x 45.7 x 1.3 cm Painting . 20 x 18 x 0.5 inch

€1,115

Fine Art Drawings, L'élégante, Yvette Alde

Yvette Alde

Fine Art Drawings . 31.5 x 23.5 cm Fine Art Drawings . 12.4 x 9.3 inch

€200

Fine Art Drawings, Mucha, Ramon Maiden

Ramon Maiden

Fine Art Drawings . 43.5 x 28 cm Fine Art Drawings . 17.1 x 11 inch

€750

Painting, Scenery 1, Anastasya Lyulina

Anastasya Lyulina

Painting . 40.5 x 30.5 x 1 cm Painting . 15.9 x 12 x 0.4 inch

€366

Print, La cavalière, Marc Chagall

Marc Chagall

Print . 34 x 48 x 0.5 cm Print . 13.4 x 18.9 x 0.2 inch

€1,000

Painting, Hebrides 1, Shawn Marshall

Shawn Marshall

Painting . 50.8 x 50.8 x 3.8 cm Painting . 20 x 20 x 1.5 inch

€869

Painting, Surfer, Peter de Boer

Peter de Boer

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

€900

Painting, Dreamy roses, Yana Ros

Yana Ros

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

€450

Fine Art Drawings, 15 - Turquoise, Genny Puccini

Genny Puccini

Fine Art Drawings . 50 x 50 x 0.3 cm Fine Art Drawings . 19.7 x 19.7 x 0.1 inch

€850

Painting, Nina, Marta Lafuente

Marta Lafuente

Painting . 49 x 36 cm Painting . 19.3 x 14.2 inch

€850

Sculpture, Habitaculo, Gisele Borras

Gisele Borras

Sculpture . 27 x 23 x 23 cm Sculpture . 10.6 x 9.1 x 9.1 inch

€5,500

7/80