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, 396, Jérémie Iordanoff

396

Jérémie Iordanoff

Painting . 44 x 44 x 1 cm Painting . 17.3 x 17.3 x 0.4 inch

€700

Painting, Mosaïk, Koa

Koa

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

€310

Photography, Mid Point 2, Tenesh Webber

Tenesh Webber

Photography . 28 x 28 cm Photography . 11 x 11 inch

€2,404

Print, Floralys alchemy, Ned

Ned

Print . 37 x 27 x 2 cm Print . 14.6 x 10.6 x 0.8 inch

€800

Painting, Portrait 8, FeiWoux Chan

FeiWoux Chan

Painting . 46 x 38 x 3 cm Painting . 18.1 x 15 x 1.2 inch

€1,200

Painting, Imagine, Marie Ange Mory

Marie Ange Mory

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

€4,900

Painting, Love, Xiaoyang Galas

Xiaoyang Galas

Painting . 35.1 x 35.1 x 2 cm Painting . 13.8 x 13.8 x 0.8 inch

€872

Print, Forest pump, Jérome Jean

Jérome Jean

Print . 37 x 27 x 2 cm Print . 14.6 x 10.6 x 0.8 inch

€600

Print, Golden letterz, Papa Mesk

Papa Mesk

Print . 37 x 27 x 2 cm Print . 14.6 x 10.6 x 0.8 inch

€700

Painting, Copy Cat Eyes, Dwayne Wolff

Dwayne Wolff

Painting . 50.8 x 50.8 x 2.5 cm Painting . 20 x 20 x 1 inch

€1,635

Painting, Artwork 7, Cécile Lacombe

Cécile Lacombe

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

€550

Painting, Diary Notes, Trude Viken

Trude Viken

Painting . 29.845 x 22.86 x 2 cm Painting . 11.8 x 9 x 0.8 inch

€4,541

Painting, Intervention, Dyala Khodary

Dyala Khodary

Painting . 36 x 32 x 2 cm Painting . 14.2 x 12.6 x 0.8 inch

€900

Fine Art Drawings, 13.1.16, Richard Caldicott

Richard Caldicott

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

€1,503

Painting, Untitled, Craig Kucia

Craig Kucia

Painting . 29.8 x 21.6 x 2 cm Painting . 11.7 x 8.5 x 0.8 inch

€11,353

Painting, Abstract Flock, Mark Tobey

Mark Tobey

Painting . 29.5 x 21.5 x 0.1 cm Painting . 11.6 x 8.5 x 0 inch

€12,000

Painting, Lady midday, Ewa Dura

Ewa Dura

Painting . 21 x 30 x 1 cm Painting . 8.3 x 11.8 x 0.4 inch

€1,600

Painting, 46, Miyako Shimizu

46

Miyako Shimizu

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

€3,500

Painting, The Dance, Augustina Droze

Augustina Droze

Painting . 50 x 50 x 4 cm Painting . 19.7 x 19.7 x 1.6 inch

€3,795

Sculpture, Miroir Miroir, Jack Jacquot

Jack Jacquot

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

€800

Sculpture, Noa's dress, Pere Sala

Pere Sala

Sculpture . 43 x 38 x 12 cm Sculpture . 16.9 x 15 x 4.7 inch

€2,050

Fine Art Drawings, Untitled (131.13), Tilman

Tilman

Fine Art Drawings . 35.5 x 28 cm Fine Art Drawings . 14 x 11 inch

€902

Fine Art Drawings, Théorèmes #1, Nagsoul

Nagsoul

Fine Art Drawings . 22 x 32 x 0.1 cm Fine Art Drawings . 8.7 x 12.6 x 0 inch

€800

Painting, Stoulgram, Stoul

Stoul

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

€750

Photography, Mid Point 3, Tenesh Webber

Tenesh Webber

Photography . 28 x 28 cm Photography . 11 x 11 inch

€2,404

Painting, Secret, Isabelle Hirtzig

Isabelle Hirtzig

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

€175

Painting, Resilience, Liz Gartz

Liz Gartz

Painting . 50 x 50 x 4 cm Painting . 19.7 x 19.7 x 1.6 inch

€1,160

Painting, Flux, Willy Chupa

Willy Chupa

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

€800