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, Red Flower, KatRegArt

KatRegArt

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

€690

Fine Art Drawings, Séraphin, Dominique Pourchet

Dominique Pourchet

Fine Art Drawings . 40 x 30 x 0.1 cm Fine Art Drawings . 15.7 x 11.8 x 0 inch

€195

Sculpture, Mystic, Rene Rikkelman

Rene Rikkelman

Sculpture . 41 x 8 x 33 cm Sculpture . 16.1 x 3.1 x 13 inch

€4,500

Painting, Quiet happiness, Irina Bast

Irina Bast

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

€619

Painting, Sass, Nushka

Nushka

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

€2,200

Print, Man and Bird, Annora Spence

Annora Spence

Print . 43.2 x 44.5 x 5.1 cm Print . 17 x 17.5 x 2 inch

€1,121

Fine Art Drawings, Sin City, Lucio Forte

Lucio Forte

Fine Art Drawings . 24 x 34 x 0.1 cm Fine Art Drawings . 9.4 x 13.4 x 0 inch

€170

Sculpture, Nuance 11, Jack Jacquot

Jack Jacquot

Sculpture . 34 x 47 x 1 cm Sculpture . 13.4 x 18.5 x 0.4 inch

€500

Print, Sans-titre, Claude Weisbuch

Claude Weisbuch

Print . 27.5 x 17.8 x 0.1 cm Print . 10.8 x 7 x 0 inch

€200

Painting, Fall, Jacob Pescollderungg

Jacob Pescollderungg

Painting . 45 x 35 x 1 cm Painting . 17.7 x 13.8 x 0.4 inch

€300

Painting, Homeless, C215

C215

Painting . 38 x 38 x 4 cm Painting . 15 x 15 x 1.6 inch

€3,100

Photography, El campesino, James Sparshatt

James Sparshatt

Photography . 35 x 35 x 1 cm Photography . 13.8 x 13.8 x 0.4 inch

€716 €645

Painting, Colleague, Nazar Ivanyuk

Nazar Ivanyuk

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

€880

Sculpture, Wonder, Mehnoush Modonpour

Mehnoush Modonpour

Sculpture . 50 x 48 x 48 cm Sculpture . 19.7 x 18.9 x 18.9 inch

€3,700

Painting, Gaze 1, Akingbade Mayowa

Akingbade Mayowa

Painting . 35.6 x 30.5 x 2.5 cm Painting . 14 x 12 x 1 inch

€718

Painting, The Faure, Peter Max

Peter Max

Painting . 40.6 x 30.5 x 0.3 cm Painting . 16 x 12 x 0.1 inch

€2,658 €2,392

Photography, Madang Man, Wylda Bayrón

Wylda Bayrón

Photography . 30 x 45 x 0.1 cm Photography . 11.8 x 17.7 x 0 inch

€1,200

Sculpture, A tree, Liutauras Grieze

Liutauras Grieze

Sculpture . 20 x 28 x 28 cm Sculpture . 7.9 x 11 x 11 inch

€1,900

Painting, Philosopher, Xiaodong Liu

Xiaodong Liu

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

€5,600

Painting, In shade, Midori Luck

Midori Luck

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

€670

Painting, You Fuck My Planet ?, Otist

Otist

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

€500

Painting, Needy, Lluís Bargalló

Lluís Bargalló

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

€3,000

Painting, Indi II, Lluís Bargalló

Lluís Bargalló

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

€2,500

Fine Art Drawings, The Blues Boss, Jay Russell

Jay Russell

Fine Art Drawings . 35.6 x 27.9 x 5.1 cm Fine Art Drawings . 14 x 11 x 2 inch

€2,153

Photography, Les menottes, Arnaud Baumann

Arnaud Baumann

Photography . 30 x 45 x 0.1 cm Photography . 11.8 x 17.7 x 0 inch

€950

Painting, Matador, Manuel Santelices

Manuel Santelices

Painting . 40.6 x 30.5 x 0.3 cm Painting . 16 x 12 x 0.1 inch

€1,076

Fine Art Drawings, Le masque de fer, Clara Crespin

Clara Crespin

Fine Art Drawings . 42 x 30 x 0.2 cm Fine Art Drawings . 16.5 x 11.8 x 0.1 inch

€350

Sculpture, Le Labyrinthe, Lieven D'Haese

Lieven D'Haese

Sculpture . 42 x 37 x 38 cm Sculpture . 16.5 x 14.6 x 15 inch

€6,900

Painting, Mon fils !, Noël Granger

Noël Granger

Painting . 29 x 40 x 0.1 cm Painting . 11.4 x 15.7 x 0 inch

€180

Painting, Hombre Monte, Eduardo Candil

Eduardo Candil

Painting . 29.7 x 21 x 0.1 cm Painting . 11.7 x 8.3 x 0 inch

€600