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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Photography, Kintsugi II, Romain Liverato

Romain Liverato

Photography . 50 x 50 x 1 cm Photography . 19.7 x 19.7 x 0.4 inch

€1,000

Painting, Red Shemp, Dwayne Wolff

Dwayne Wolff

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

€550

Painting, Bouquiniste II, Karin Boinet

Karin Boinet

Painting . 41 x 31 x 0.1 cm Painting . 16.1 x 12.2 x 0 inch

€620

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, Ghost gum mini VI, Anna F

Anna F

Painting . 30 x 22 x 2 cm Painting . 11.8 x 8.7 x 0.8 inch

€413

Painting, Donald Duck, Maxime Frairot

Maxime Frairot

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

€180

Painting, U.F.I #3, Câline Farah

Câline Farah

Painting . 30 x 30 x 2.3 cm Painting . 11.8 x 11.8 x 0.9 inch

€366

Painting, Vanitas, 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, Sbc 197, Susan Cantrick

Susan Cantrick

Painting . 28 x 37 cm Painting . 11 x 14.6 inch

€607

Painting, Divisions, Stefan Fierros

Stefan Fierros

Painting . 31 x 31 x 4.1 cm Painting . 12.2 x 12.2 x 1.6 inch

€300

Sculpture, Roarrrr, SKP

SKP

Sculpture . 34 x 18 x 5 cm Sculpture . 13.4 x 7.1 x 2 inch

€248

Painting, Loneliness, Joanna BM

Joanna BM

Painting . 50 x 50 x 3.5 cm Painting . 19.7 x 19.7 x 1.4 inch

€2,650

Painting, Autumn rows, Andrew Kinmont

Andrew Kinmont

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

€1,457

Painting, Summer, Muraz Martirosyan

Muraz Martirosyan

Painting . 47 x 37 cm Painting . 18.5 x 14.6 inch

€390 €351

Painting, Enfants, Pascal Marlin

Pascal Marlin

Painting . 46 x 38 x 2 cm Painting . 18.1 x 15 x 0.8 inch

€450

Painting, Primavera 1, Carmeli Polo

Carmeli Polo

Painting . 12 x 28 x 1 cm Painting . 4.7 x 11 x 0.4 inch

€450

Painting, Untitled, Nino Tolomashvili

Nino Tolomashvili

Painting . 30 x 40 x 3 cm Painting . 11.8 x 15.7 x 1.2 inch

€300

Painting, Portrait, Nino Tolomashvili

Nino Tolomashvili

Painting . 40 x 31 x 0.1 cm Painting . 15.7 x 12.2 x 0 inch

€500

Painting, The touch of glory, Joanna BM

Joanna BM

Painting . 50 x 50 x 3.5 cm Painting . 19.7 x 19.7 x 1.4 inch

€2,650

Painting, Shoot the bank 2013, JP Malot

JP Malot

Painting . 43 x 36 x 4 cm Painting . 16.9 x 14.2 x 1.6 inch

€2,900

Painting, Barco Violeta I, Sergio Bazan

Sergio Bazan

Painting . 48.3 x 48.3 x 0.3 cm Painting . 19 x 19 x 0.1 inch

€3,664