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, Kolochava, Alexander Shandor

Alexander Shandor

Painting . 20 x 40 x 3 cm Painting . 7.9 x 15.7 x 1.2 inch

€542

Painting, Untitled, Ghada Jamal

Ghada Jamal

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

€1,300

Painting, Autumn Day, Alexander Shandor

Alexander Shandor

Painting . 35 x 41 x 0.3 cm Painting . 13.8 x 16.1 x 0.1 inch

€903

Painting, Warm Day, Alexander Shandor

Alexander Shandor

Painting . 35 x 40 x 0.3 cm Painting . 13.8 x 15.7 x 0.1 inch

€451

Painting, Panier, Manuela Ferreira

Manuela Ferreira

Painting . 30 x 40 x 1 cm Painting . 11.8 x 15.7 x 0.4 inch

€230

Print, Alpinist, Peter Doig

Peter Doig

Print . 35.6 x 30.5 x 0.01 cm Print . 14 x 12 x 0 inch

€8,260

Painting, Morning Mist, Timon Sloane

Timon Sloane

Painting . 22.9 x 30.5 x 1.3 cm Painting . 9 x 12 x 0.5 inch

€519

Painting, Mountains, Tetiana Chubukova

Tetiana Chubukova

Painting . 39.5 x 49.5 x 2.8 cm Painting . 15.6 x 19.5 x 1.1 inch

€1,354

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, Etude 116, Alexander Shandor

Alexander Shandor

Painting . 24 x 28 x 0.3 cm Painting . 9.4 x 11 x 0.1 inch

€3,611

Sculpture, Estive 1, Grégoire Lavigne

Grégoire Lavigne

Sculpture . 42 x 37 x 34 cm Sculpture . 16.5 x 14.6 x 13.4 inch

€850

Painting, Paysages 200, Yi Zhong Xia

Yi Zhong Xia

Painting . 34 x 27 x 1 cm Painting . 13.4 x 10.6 x 0.4 inch

€450

Painting, Nantai, Lusie Schellenberg

Lusie Schellenberg

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

€800

Painting, Hotel Canazei, Riccardo Mayr

Riccardo Mayr

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

€800

Painting, Old Town, Alexander Shandor

Alexander Shandor

Painting . 30 x 44 x 3 cm Painting . 11.8 x 17.3 x 1.2 inch

€632

Painting, Paysage chinois 725, Xiu

Xiu

Painting . 50 x 20 x 1 cm Painting . 19.7 x 7.9 x 0.4 inch

€600

Painting, Paysage chinois 721, Xiu

Xiu

Painting . 50 x 20 x 1 cm Painting . 19.7 x 7.9 x 0.4 inch

€600

Print, Wall of Death, Peter Doig

Peter Doig

Print . 35.6 x 30.5 cm Print . 14 x 12 inch

€7,000

Painting, Up the Hills, Jozef Svikruha

Jozef Svikruha

Painting . 35 x 40 x 1.5 cm Painting . 13.8 x 15.7 x 0.6 inch

€520

Painting, Paysage chinois 720, Xiu

Xiu

Painting . 50 x 20 x 1 cm Painting . 19.7 x 7.9 x 0.4 inch

€600

Painting, Paysage chinois 719, Xiu

Xiu

Painting . 50 x 20 x 1 cm Painting . 19.7 x 7.9 x 0.4 inch

€600

Painting, Paysage chinois 717, Xiu

Xiu

Painting . 50 x 20 x 1 cm Painting . 19.7 x 7.9 x 0.4 inch

€600

Painting, Lava flow, Zsolt Bukta

Zsolt Bukta

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

€1,400

Painting, Paysage chinois 726, Xiu

Xiu

Painting . 50 x 20 x 1 cm Painting . 19.7 x 7.9 x 0.4 inch

€600

Painting, Paysage chinois 724, Xiu

Xiu

Painting . 50 x 20 x 1 cm Painting . 19.7 x 7.9 x 0.4 inch

€600

Painting, Paysage chinois 723, Xiu

Xiu

Painting . 50 x 20 x 1 cm Painting . 19.7 x 7.9 x 0.4 inch

€600

Painting, Paysage chinois 716, Xiu

Xiu

Painting . 50 x 20 x 1 cm Painting . 19.7 x 7.9 x 0.4 inch

€600

Photography, Chasm Lake, Tom Reed

Tom Reed

Photography . 35.6 x 27.9 x 0.3 cm Photography . 14 x 11 x 0.1 inch

€158

Painting, Untitled 4, Keti Shapatava

Keti Shapatava

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

€1,800

Painting, Paysage, Paul Mathey

Paul Mathey

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

€1,040