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, Autunno, Lorena Fonsato

Lorena Fonsato

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

€170

Painting, Osmose, Lallement Martine

Lallement Martine

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

€250

Painting, Untitled II, Rachel Isadora

Rachel Isadora

Painting . 27.9 x 35.6 x 5.1 cm Painting . 11 x 14 x 2 inch

€671

Photography, Voodoo, Léa Bon

Léa Bon

Photography . 45 x 30 x 0.3 cm Photography . 17.7 x 11.8 x 0.1 inch

€1,788

Painting, Two bathers, Nadezda Stupina

Nadezda Stupina

Painting . 40 x 30 x 0.1 cm Painting . 15.7 x 11.8 x 0 inch

€450

Print, Untitled, Joan Vilacasas

Joan Vilacasas

Print . 36 x 46 cm Print . 14.2 x 18.1 inch

€600

Photography, Ciel 31, Feng Hatat

Feng Hatat

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

€500

Photography, Ciel 29, Feng Hatat

Feng Hatat

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

€600

Photography, Ciel 28, Feng Hatat

Feng Hatat

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

€500

Photography, Ciel 27, Feng Hatat

Feng Hatat

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

€600

Photography, Ciel 26, Feng Hatat

Feng Hatat

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

€500

Photography, Ciel 26, Feng Hatat

Feng Hatat

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

€600

Photography, Ciel 25, Feng Hatat

Feng Hatat

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

€600

Photography, Lune d'hiver, Feng Hatat

Feng Hatat

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

€600

Painting, Summer, Abashidze Marusya

Abashidze Marusya

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

€320

Painting, Fun 1, Nash

Nash

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

€150

Painting, Marcia, Anyck Alvarez Kerloch

Anyck Alvarez Kerloch

Painting . 39.9 x 30 x 0.5 cm Painting . 15.7 x 11.8 x 0.2 inch

€483

Painting, Inquietud, Ana Reynolds

Ana Reynolds

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

€400

Photography, Science Museum, Javier Molina

Javier Molina

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

€457

Painting, Crocodile, Tengiz Cholokava

Tengiz Cholokava

Painting . 11 x 31.5 x 1 cm Painting . 4.3 x 12.4 x 0.4 inch

€330

Painting, Blue dream, Nat Stresser

Nat Stresser

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

€420

Painting, Cielo, Ana Reynolds

Ana Reynolds

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

€400

Painting, Ange gardien, Isabelle Marie

Isabelle Marie

Painting . 41.5 x 29.5 x 0.01 cm Painting . 16.3 x 11.6 x 0 inch

€300

Painting, Motif 240, Sia Aryai

Sia Aryai

Painting . 43.2 x 33 x 3 cm Painting . 17 x 13 x 1.2 inch

€340

Painting, Rescue Jacket, Gary Westall

Gary Westall

Painting . 30 x 24.1 x 0.5 cm Painting . 11.8 x 9.5 x 0.2 inch

€420

Fine Art Drawings, Montmartre, Kamsar Ohanyan

Kamsar Ohanyan

Fine Art Drawings . 27 x 37 x 0.1 cm Fine Art Drawings . 10.6 x 14.6 x 0 inch

€200

Fine Art Drawings, December, Kamsar Ohanyan

Kamsar Ohanyan

Fine Art Drawings . 37 x 27 x 0.1 cm Fine Art Drawings . 14.6 x 10.6 x 0 inch

€200

Painting, Océan, Martine Elhaik

Martine Elhaik

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

€350

Painting, Having A Blast, Will Eskridge

Will Eskridge

Painting . 30.5 x 30.5 x 3.8 cm Painting . 12 x 12 x 1.5 inch

€358

Painting, Motif 243, Sia Aryai

Sia Aryai

Painting . 43.2 x 33 x 3 cm Painting . 17 x 13 x 1.2 inch

€367

Photography, Déclin, Coralie Honnorat

Coralie Honnorat

Photography . 34 x 23 x 0.1 cm Photography . 13.4 x 9.1 x 0 inch

€200

Painting, The Blue Vase, Daniel Clarke

Daniel Clarke

Painting . 45.7 x 30.5 x 0.3 cm Painting . 18 x 12 x 0.1 inch

€213

Photography, Louvre I, Shengqi Tang

Shengqi Tang

Photography . 20 x 30 x 1 cm Photography . 7.9 x 11.8 x 0.4 inch

€650

Painting, L'embryon, Amor de Agua

Amor de Agua

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

€500

Painting, Le bas résile, Christy

Christy

Painting . 41 x 33 x 2 cm Painting . 16.1 x 13 x 0.8 inch

€650

Painting, Tempest, Tetiana Chubukova

Tetiana Chubukova

Painting . 30 x 30 x 1.5 cm Painting . 11.8 x 11.8 x 0.6 inch

€492

Painting, Teenagers, Carole Leprince

Carole Leprince

Painting . 41 x 33 x 2 cm Painting . 16.1 x 13 x 0.8 inch

€260

Photography, Golfer, Jan Brunclík

Jan Brunclík

Photography . 42.5 x 30 x 0.1 cm Photography . 16.7 x 11.8 x 0 inch

€760

Painting, Lake, Tetiana Chubukova

Tetiana Chubukova

Painting . 30 x 30 x 1.5 cm Painting . 11.8 x 11.8 x 0.6 inch

€492

Print, Ceto, Rocio Mazuecos

Rocio Mazuecos

Print . 35 x 25 x 0.01 cm Print . 13.8 x 9.8 x 0 inch

€300

Photography, Volcan, Coralie Honnorat

Coralie Honnorat

Photography . 24 x 33 x 0.1 cm Photography . 9.4 x 13 x 0 inch

€200

Fine Art Drawings, Medusa 2, Christian Frederiksen

Christian Frederiksen

Fine Art Drawings . 36 x 29 x 0.1 cm Fine Art Drawings . 14.2 x 11.4 x 0 inch

€700

Photography, Pilgrim, Javier Molina

Javier Molina

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

€457

Sculpture, Valise bleu nuit, Arson

Arson

Sculpture . 50 x 40 x 15 cm Sculpture . 19.7 x 15.7 x 5.9 inch

€3,200

Painting, Sea, Tetiana Chubukova

Sea

Tetiana Chubukova

Painting . 30 x 30 x 1.8 cm Painting . 11.8 x 11.8 x 0.7 inch

€492

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