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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Fine Art Drawings, Wege von Dresden 2, Nagsoul

Nagsoul

Fine Art Drawings . 29.5 x 29.5 x 0.1 cm Fine Art Drawings . 11.6 x 11.6 x 0 inch

€800

Fine Art Drawings, F, 2024, Philippe Huart

Philippe Huart

Fine Art Drawings . 41 x 30 x 1 cm Fine Art Drawings . 16.1 x 11.8 x 0.4 inch

€3,000

Fine Art Drawings, Lulu, Corné Akkers

Corné Akkers

Fine Art Drawings . 21.1 x 29.7 x 0.3 cm Fine Art Drawings . 8.3 x 11.7 x 0.1 inch

€1,529

Fine Art Drawings, Paysage, Patrick Lanneau

Patrick Lanneau

Fine Art Drawings . 30 x 42 x 0.1 cm Fine Art Drawings . 11.8 x 16.5 x 0 inch

€250

Painting, Blue velvet, Nef

Nef

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

€350

Painting, Bleu, Rongge Zhu

Rongge Zhu

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

€600

Fine Art Drawings, N°1 - Untitled, Aditi Lago

Aditi Lago

Fine Art Drawings . 30 x 28 x 0.1 cm Fine Art Drawings . 11.8 x 11 x 0 inch

€500

Painting, The Astronomer, Ken Garduno

Ken Garduno

Painting . 38 x 23 x 0.1 cm Painting . 15 x 9.1 x 0 inch

€400

Fine Art Drawings, Bas Dior, René Gruau

René Gruau

Fine Art Drawings . 47 x 33.5 cm Fine Art Drawings . 18.5 x 13.2 inch

€2,500

Fine Art Drawings, Sans Titre, Corné Akkers

Corné Akkers

Fine Art Drawings . 28.2 x 21.1 x 0.3 cm Fine Art Drawings . 11.1 x 8.3 x 0.1 inch

€1,532

Sculpture, Sacra bestias, Jen-chih Yu

Jen-chih Yu

Sculpture . 27.5 x 27.5 x 4.5 cm Sculpture . 10.8 x 10.8 x 1.8 inch

€1,200

Fine Art Drawings, Woman, Antonio Mellone

Antonio Mellone

Fine Art Drawings . 48.5 x 33.5 x 0.2 cm Fine Art Drawings . 19.1 x 13.2 x 0.1 inch

€400

Fine Art Drawings, Sunday Morning, Kirill Postovit

Kirill Postovit

Fine Art Drawings . 21 x 29.7 x 0.1 cm Fine Art Drawings . 8.3 x 11.7 x 0 inch

€260 €216

Painting, Melissa, Monica

Monica

Painting . 40 x 30 x 1.7 cm Painting . 15.7 x 11.8 x 0.7 inch

€350

Fine Art Drawings, Green Eyes, Dean Tavoularis

Dean Tavoularis

Fine Art Drawings . 35 x 28 x 1 cm Fine Art Drawings . 13.8 x 11 x 0.4 inch

€1,000

Fine Art Drawings, 068, Agur

068

Agur

Fine Art Drawings . 29 x 41 x 0.1 cm Fine Art Drawings . 11.4 x 16.1 x 0 inch

€350

Fine Art Drawings, …Where you are, Blu_451

Blu_451

Fine Art Drawings . 29 x 20 x 1 cm Fine Art Drawings . 11.4 x 7.9 x 0.4 inch

€400

Fine Art Drawings, Petite fille, Mariette Lydis

Mariette Lydis

Fine Art Drawings . 30 x 25 cm Fine Art Drawings . 11.8 x 9.8 inch

€500

Fine Art Drawings, Inox, Nef

Nef

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

€200

Fine Art Drawings, Portrait 04, Barbara Kroll

Barbara Kroll

Fine Art Drawings . 34 x 24.4 x 0.3 cm Fine Art Drawings . 13.4 x 9.6 x 0.1 inch

€284

Painting, Cindy, Monica

Monica

Painting . 40 x 30 x 1.7 cm Painting . 15.7 x 11.8 x 0.7 inch

€350

Fine Art Drawings, Forest Road, Dean Tavoularis

Dean Tavoularis

Fine Art Drawings . 42 x 28 x 1 cm Fine Art Drawings . 16.5 x 11 x 0.4 inch

€1,200

Fine Art Drawings, Art, Pieter Ceizer

Art

Pieter Ceizer

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

€540

Fine Art Drawings, Sans Titre, Corné Akkers

Corné Akkers

Fine Art Drawings . 28.2 x 21.1 x 0.3 cm Fine Art Drawings . 11.1 x 8.3 x 0.1 inch

€1,517

Fine Art Drawings, Untitled, Dev

Dev

Fine Art Drawings . 39 x 30 x 0.1 cm Fine Art Drawings . 15.4 x 11.8 x 0 inch

€750

Fine Art Drawings, Untitled 270, Tarek Butayhi

Tarek Butayhi

Fine Art Drawings . 50 x 35 cm Fine Art Drawings . 19.7 x 13.8 inch

€950