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, 53/54 Urtijei, Riccardo Mayr

Riccardo Mayr

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

€800

Painting, Never, Eklektik

Eklektik

Painting . 29 x 29 x 3.5 cm Painting . 11.4 x 11.4 x 1.4 inch

€280

Painting, Remnant I, Jen

Jen

Painting . 40 x 40 x 5 cm Painting . 15.7 x 15.7 x 2 inch

€2,050

Painting, Bomb Color Mask, Gregos

Gregos

Painting . 27 x 21 x 6 cm Painting . 10.6 x 8.3 x 2.4 inch

€400

Painting, With Love, Dorit Levi

Dorit Levi

Painting . 50 x 35 x 0.5 cm Painting . 19.7 x 13.8 x 0.2 inch

€2,350

Painting, Blondie, Aranka's Art

Aranka's Art

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

€375

Painting, Gaugalin 2, Matthieu de Malte

Matthieu de Malte

Painting . 29.7 x 21 x 0.5 cm Painting . 11.7 x 8.3 x 0.2 inch

€400

Painting, Color guides me, Calat

Calat

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

€625

Painting, Fête, Zwy Milshtein

Zwy Milshtein

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

€1,600

Painting, Ville orange, Karin Boinet

Karin Boinet

Painting . 46 x 35 cm Painting . 18.1 x 13.8 inch

€850

Painting, Summer, Ahmed Art

Ahmed Art

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

€350

Painting, Memory I, Shilpa Joglekar

Shilpa Joglekar

Painting . 44 x 44 x 0.3 cm Painting . 17.3 x 17.3 x 0.1 inch

€700

Print, Now Complete 1., Petr Strnad

Petr Strnad

Print . 39.8 x 27.6 x 0.1 cm Print . 15.7 x 10.9 x 0 inch

€390

Painting, Mirage XV, Man et Pia

Man et Pia

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

€750

Painting, Untamed, Lori Bagnérès

Lori Bagnérès

Painting . 40 x 30 x 3.8 cm Painting . 15.7 x 11.8 x 1.5 inch

€2,360

Sculpture, Chinese Star, Li Lihong

Li Lihong

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

€900

Painting, Trees, Stanislav Bojankov

Stanislav Bojankov

Painting . 50 x 40 x 0.5 cm Painting . 19.7 x 15.7 x 0.2 inch

€450 €405

Painting, Escape (diptyque), Caalista

Caalista

Painting . 27 x 32 x 2 cm Painting . 10.6 x 12.6 x 0.8 inch

€350

Painting, Untitled, Hayduk Smbatyan

Hayduk Smbatyan

Painting . 30 x 26.5 x 0.3 cm Painting . 11.8 x 10.4 x 0.1 inch

€350

Painting, Untitled, Hayduk Smbatyan

Hayduk Smbatyan

Painting . 42 x 30 x 0.3 cm Painting . 16.5 x 11.8 x 0.1 inch

€350 €315

Painting, Change, Anna Krtshatsyan

Anna Krtshatsyan

Painting . 40 x 30 x 0.5 cm Painting . 15.7 x 11.8 x 0.2 inch

€350 €315

Painting, Together, Zied Lasram

Zied Lasram

Painting . 50 x 32 x 1 cm Painting . 19.7 x 12.6 x 0.4 inch

€585

Painting, Mon reflet, Sourena Parhizkar

Sourena Parhizkar

Painting . 50 x 39 x 2 cm Painting . 19.7 x 15.4 x 0.8 inch

€7,800

Painting, Inner Turmoil, Asma Namouji

Asma Namouji

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

€1,700

Painting, Connected, Yuiko Ráyka

Yuiko Ráyka

Painting . 30 x 30 x 2.5 cm Painting . 11.8 x 11.8 x 1 inch

€1,500

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