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, Gavinana, Luigi Iona

Luigi Iona

Painting . 50 x 35 x 0.1 cm Painting . 19.7 x 13.8 x 0 inch

€150

Painting, Masia.Mallorca, Gaspar Riera

Gaspar Riera

Painting . 33 x 24 x 1 cm Painting . 13 x 9.4 x 0.4 inch

€2,100

Painting, Untitled, Ferran Roca Bon

Ferran Roca Bon

Painting . 35 x 50 cm Painting . 13.8 x 19.7 inch

€900

Painting, Country living, Carla Bosch

Carla Bosch

Painting . 40 x 50 x 1 cm Painting . 15.7 x 19.7 x 0.4 inch

€1,950

Print, Miranda 2, Lucio Forte

Lucio Forte

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

€120

Fine Art Drawings, Suburban idyll, Ilya Kabakov

Ilya Kabakov

Fine Art Drawings . 21.2 x 30 x 1 cm Fine Art Drawings . 8.3 x 11.8 x 0.4 inch

€9,000

Painting, Lueurs flottantes, Denis Miau

Denis Miau

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

€1,200

Design, Puppy, Jeff Koons

Jeff Koons

Design . 27.9 x 38.1 x 2.5 cm Design . 11 x 15 x 1 inch

€4,062

Painting, Landscape, Areg Vahramyan

Areg Vahramyan

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

€1,400

Painting, View of Bass Rock, Mike Hall

Mike Hall

Painting . 37 x 30 x 1 cm Painting . 14.6 x 11.8 x 0.4 inch

€960

Painting, La La Land, Amy Bernays

Amy Bernays

Painting . 40.6 x 50.8 x 1.5 cm Painting . 16 x 20 x 0.6 inch

€974

Painting, It seems Strange., Paul Ward

Paul Ward

Painting . 41.9 x 30.5 x 5.1 cm Painting . 16.5 x 12 x 2 inch

€2,028

Painting, Campagne, René Guinand

René Guinand

Painting . 22 x 25.5 x 2 cm Painting . 8.7 x 10 x 0.8 inch

€960

Fine Art Drawings, Beek - 23-06-24, Corné Akkers

Corné Akkers

Fine Art Drawings . 21.1 x 29.7 x 0.3 cm Fine Art Drawings . 8.3 x 11.7 x 0.1 inch

€1,453

Sculpture, Transplantation 4, VAM

VAM

Sculpture . 35 x 20 x 20 cm Sculpture . 13.8 x 7.9 x 7.9 inch

€1,200

Painting, A la campagne, Ettore Verdesi

Ettore Verdesi

Painting . 29 x 39 x 0.3 cm Painting . 11.4 x 15.4 x 0.1 inch

€994

Painting, Early spring, V. Krikhatsky

V. Krikhatsky

Painting . 19 x 30 x 2 cm Painting . 7.5 x 11.8 x 0.8 inch

€829

Painting, Locarno, Jules Gaillepand

Jules Gaillepand

Painting . 33.5 x 44 x 0.5 cm Painting . 13.2 x 17.3 x 0.2 inch

€1,243

Painting, Paysans au champ, I. G.

I. G.

Painting . 20 x 35 x 0.5 cm Painting . 7.9 x 13.8 x 0.2 inch

€1,797

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

€835

Painting, Spring, Yaroslav Savchyn

Yaroslav Savchyn

Painting . 30 x 45 x 2 cm Painting . 11.8 x 17.7 x 0.8 inch

€350

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

Painting, Selo 17, Ivan Tzonev

Ivan Tzonev

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

€250

Painting, Nederland, Richard Szkutnik

Richard Szkutnik

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

€1,480

Painting, Joncs, Maria Perello

Maria Perello

Painting . 30 x 30 x 5 cm Painting . 11.8 x 11.8 x 2 inch

€830

Fine Art Drawings, Cheese bell (4), Yulia Pugacheva

Yulia Pugacheva

Fine Art Drawings . 21 x 29 x 0.01 cm Fine Art Drawings . 8.3 x 11.4 x 0 inch

€280

Painting, View of Staithe, Mike Hall

Mike Hall

Painting . 27 x 22 x 1 cm Painting . 10.6 x 8.7 x 0.4 inch

€839

Painting, 14.06.22, Daniel Maria Thurau

Daniel Maria Thurau

Painting . 50 x 35 x 0.1 cm Painting . 19.7 x 13.8 x 0 inch

€2,550

Painting, Lakeland, Andrei Belaichuk

Andrei Belaichuk

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

€800