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, Take-2, Andrii Davydenko

Andrii Davydenko

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

€500

Painting, Apotheosis, Oleg Litvinov

Oleg Litvinov

Painting . 44.5 x 32.5 x 2 cm Painting . 17.5 x 12.8 x 0.8 inch

€415

Painting, Untitled 62, Lucio Forte

Lucio Forte

Painting . 30 x 22 x 0.1 cm Painting . 11.8 x 8.7 x 0 inch

€120

Painting, Pity, June 4th, Celso Castro

Celso Castro

Painting . 49.5 x 34.9 x 0.3 cm Painting . 19.5 x 13.75 x 0.1 inch

€538

Painting, Lying man, Karl-Karol Chrobok

Karl-Karol Chrobok

Painting . 39 x 30.5 x 0.2 cm Painting . 15.4 x 12 x 0.1 inch

€800

Print, The last rift, Olga Rakova

Olga Rakova

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

€400

Print, Bodhisattva, Olga Rakova

Olga Rakova

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

€400

Fine Art Drawings, Dimitrios, Samuel Perche

Samuel Perche

Fine Art Drawings . 40 x 29.7 x 0.2 cm Fine Art Drawings . 15.7 x 11.7 x 0.1 inch

€320

Fine Art Drawings, Christo, Samuel Perche

Samuel Perche

Fine Art Drawings . 40 x 29.7 x 0.2 cm Fine Art Drawings . 15.7 x 11.7 x 0.1 inch

€320

Fine Art Drawings, Portrait rose # 5, Pascal Marlin

Pascal Marlin

Fine Art Drawings . 32 x 24 x 0.1 cm Fine Art Drawings . 12.6 x 9.4 x 0 inch

€220

Fine Art Drawings, Portrait rose # 1, Pascal Marlin

Pascal Marlin

Fine Art Drawings . 41 x 32 x 0.1 cm Fine Art Drawings . 16.1 x 12.6 x 0 inch

€300

Fine Art Drawings, Oreste, Samuel Perche

Samuel Perche

Fine Art Drawings . 42 x 29.7 x 0.1 cm Fine Art Drawings . 16.5 x 11.7 x 0 inch

€400

Fine Art Drawings, Ruben, Samuel Perche

Samuel Perche

Fine Art Drawings . 40 x 29.7 x 0.2 cm Fine Art Drawings . 15.7 x 11.7 x 0.1 inch

€320

Sculpture, Dancer, Lyubka Kyrilova

Lyubka Kyrilova

Sculpture . 44 x 21 x 11 cm Sculpture . 17.3 x 8.3 x 4.3 inch

€6,700

Photography, Drops, Franck Leclerc

Franck Leclerc

Photography . 33 x 40 x 1 cm Photography . 13 x 15.7 x 0.4 inch

€690

Print, Action 2, Luiza Kasprzyk

Luiza Kasprzyk

Print . 43 x 48 cm Print . 16.9 x 18.9 inch

€300

Painting, I kissed boy, MorningCamille

MorningCamille

Painting . 47 x 32 x 1 cm Painting . 18.5 x 12.6 x 0.4 inch

€380

Photography, 110.01.98, Kampert Klaus

Kampert Klaus

Photography . 50 x 38 x 0.1 cm Photography . 19.7 x 15 x 0 inch

€1,700

Painting, Waiting, Anand Manchiraju

Anand Manchiraju

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

€4,485

Fine Art Drawings, NomadeMadrid01, Eulogia Merle

Eulogia Merle

Fine Art Drawings . 26 x 17 cm Fine Art Drawings . 10.2 x 6.7 inch

€250

Print, Cygnange, LN Le Cheviller

LN Le Cheviller

Print . 30 x 30 x 0.1 cm Print . 11.8 x 11.8 x 0 inch

€130

Fine Art Drawings, Smiling Boy, Anthony Roaland

Anthony Roaland

Fine Art Drawings . 41.5 x 30 x 0.1 cm Fine Art Drawings . 16.3 x 11.8 x 0 inch

€380

Fine Art Drawings, N666, Maria Vanishvili

Maria Vanishvili

Fine Art Drawings . 40.5 x 29.9 x 0.2 cm Fine Art Drawings . 15.9 x 11.8 x 0.1 inch

€300

Fine Art Drawings, Munasi I, Rosemary Achata

Rosemary Achata

Fine Art Drawings . 40 x 30 cm Fine Art Drawings . 15.7 x 11.8 inch

€410

Print, Dark swan, Sancko

Sancko

Print . 30 x 30 cm Print . 11.8 x 11.8 inch

€65

Photography, Épreuve L, Zakari Babel

Zakari Babel

Photography . 36 x 24 x 0.5 cm Photography . 14.2 x 9.4 x 0.2 inch

€60

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