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…

Read more
Painting, Viviane, Nathalie Le Reste

Nathalie Le Reste

Painting . 50 x 33 x 2 cm Painting . 19.7 x 13 x 0.8 inch

€750

Painting, March, Mishurovsky Victor

Mishurovsky Victor

Painting . 34.5 x 45 x 2 cm Painting . 13.6 x 17.7 x 0.8 inch

€225

Painting, Srping, Mishurovsky Victor

Mishurovsky Victor

Painting . 30.5 x 38 x 2 cm Painting . 12 x 15 x 0.8 inch

€235

Painting, Hill side, Anand Manchiraju

Anand Manchiraju

Painting . 30.5 x 38.1 x 0.3 cm Painting . 12 x 15 x 0.1 inch

€2,710

Painting, Rocks, Peter Tovpev

Peter Tovpev

Painting . 35 x 50 x 2 cm Painting . 13.8 x 19.7 x 0.8 inch

€270

Painting, Vue du Ciel, Rodica Anesia

Rodica Anesia

Painting . 40 x 40 x 4 cm Painting . 15.7 x 15.7 x 1.6 inch

€459

Painting, Untitled, Hayduk Smbatyan

Hayduk Smbatyan

Painting . 25 x 35 x 1 cm Painting . 9.8 x 13.8 x 0.4 inch

€600

Painting, New Snow, Richard Szkutnik

Richard Szkutnik

Painting . 30.5 x 40.6 x 0.5 cm Painting . 12 x 16 x 0.2 inch

€840

Painting, Snowfield, Richard Szkutnik

Richard Szkutnik

Painting . 30.5 x 40.6 x 0.5 cm Painting . 12 x 16 x 0.2 inch

€840

Painting, Red Canyon, Richard Szkutnik

Richard Szkutnik

Painting . 40.6 x 50.8 x 0.5 cm Painting . 16 x 20 x 0.2 inch

€1,400

Painting, Landscape, Soso Kumsiashvili

Soso Kumsiashvili

Painting . 30 x 41.9 x 0.3 cm Painting . 11.8 x 16.5 x 0.1 inch

€440

Fine Art Drawings, Evidence, Natalya Mougenot

Natalya Mougenot

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

€280

Painting, Verdant Peaks, Vlas Ayvazyan

Vlas Ayvazyan

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

€271

Painting, Chartreuse, Claude Carretta

Claude Carretta

Painting . 26 x 35 x 1 cm Painting . 10.2 x 13.8 x 0.4 inch

€330

Painting, Lumière, Claude Carretta

Claude Carretta

Painting . 25 x 34 x 1 cm Painting . 9.8 x 13.4 x 0.4 inch

€300

Painting, Lawn, Pereta Vyacheslav

Pereta Vyacheslav

Painting . 35 x 50 x 2 cm Painting . 13.8 x 19.7 x 0.8 inch

€290

Painting, Harvesting Day, Samvel Atasunts

Samvel Atasunts

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

€407 €346

Painting, En paix, Nathalie Le Reste

Nathalie Le Reste

Painting . 27 x 35 x 2 cm Painting . 10.6 x 13.8 x 0.8 inch

€390

Painting, Mothers Path, Amy Bernays

Amy Bernays

Painting . 40.6 x 50.8 x 1.5 cm Painting . 16 x 20 x 0.6 inch

€415

Photography, Village YaoLi, Feng Hatat

Feng Hatat

Photography . 30 x 45 x 1 cm Photography . 11.8 x 17.7 x 0.4 inch

€600

Photography, Voyage de nuit, Feng Hatat

Feng Hatat

Photography . 30 x 45 x 1 cm Photography . 11.8 x 17.7 x 0.4 inch

€600

Fine Art Drawings, Efecte d'altitud 39, Pep Vidal

Pep Vidal

Fine Art Drawings . 21 x 29.7 cm Fine Art Drawings . 8.3 x 11.7 inch

€1,250

Fine Art Drawings, UP/PF/010, Jean-Jacques André

Jean-Jacques André

Fine Art Drawings . 21.5 x 41.5 x 0.3 cm Fine Art Drawings . 8.5 x 16.3 x 0.1 inch

€190

Photography, Rivière, Feng Hatat

Feng Hatat

Photography . 30 x 45 x 1 cm Photography . 11.8 x 17.7 x 0.4 inch

€600

Painting, House on top, Andriy Klishyn

Andriy Klishyn

Painting . 31.5 x 41.5 x 2 cm Painting . 12.4 x 16.3 x 0.8 inch

€400

Painting, Branding Iron, Anthony Dunphy

Anthony Dunphy

Painting . 40.6 x 50.8 x 0.8 cm Painting . 16 x 20 x 0.3 inch

€747

Painting, Balcony, Anthony Dunphy

Anthony Dunphy

Painting . 40.6 x 50.8 x 0.8 cm Painting . 16 x 20 x 0.3 inch

€747

9/11