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, Blow, Fabien Verschaere

Fabien Verschaere

Painting . 40 x 29.7 cm Painting . 15.7 x 11.7 inch

€850

Painting, Place animée, B. Ciappa

B. Ciappa

Painting . 31 x 25 x 0.5 cm Painting . 12.2 x 9.8 x 0.2 inch

€1,080

Painting, The Bus Stop, Jun Gu Noh

Jun Gu Noh

Painting . 45 x 28 x 0.2 cm Painting . 17.7 x 11 x 0.1 inch

€1,500

Painting, Gye Nyame I, Lawrence Amoo

Lawrence Amoo

Painting . 45 x 34 x 2.5 cm Painting . 17.7 x 13.4 x 1 inch

€5,392

Painting, Game Plan, Debbie Pacheco

Debbie Pacheco

Painting . 50.8 x 40.6 x 3.8 cm Painting . 20 x 16 x 1.5 inch

€890

Painting, Beach day, Ivo Petrov

Ivo Petrov

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

€950

Sculpture, Contention, Mahmut Aydin

Mahmut Aydin

Sculpture . 30 x 30 x 20 cm Sculpture . 11.8 x 11.8 x 7.9 inch

€7,000

Photography, Iced Palm, Antoine Rose

Antoine Rose

Photography . 50 x 50 x 0.5 cm Photography . 19.7 x 19.7 x 0.2 inch

€2,200

Photography, Marilyn, Elliott Erwitt

Elliott Erwitt

Photography . 50 x 42 cm Photography . 19.7 x 16.5 inch

€450

Fine Art Drawings, Plaza, Frank De Blok

Frank De Blok

Fine Art Drawings . 21 x 30 cm Fine Art Drawings . 8.3 x 11.8 inch

€220

Photography, Couple Embrace, Tony Potts

Tony Potts

Photography . 50.8 x 40.6 cm Photography . 20 x 16 inch

€1,708

Fine Art Drawings, Sans titre, Camille Adra

Camille Adra

Fine Art Drawings . 30 x 40 cm Fine Art Drawings . 11.8 x 15.7 inch

€200

Photography, Surreal Cemetery, Ken Heyman

Ken Heyman

Photography . 27.9 x 35.6 x 1.3 cm Photography . 11 x 14 x 0.5 inch

€4,314

Photography, Shore break, Antoine Rose

Antoine Rose

Photography . 50 x 50 x 1 cm Photography . 19.7 x 19.7 x 0.4 inch

€2,200

Painting, Study, James Ulmer

James Ulmer

Painting . 30.48 x 22.86 x 2 cm Painting . 12 x 9 x 0.8 inch

€4,494

Painting, Chats, Gabrielle Rul

Gabrielle Rul

Painting . 32 x 24 x 0.1 cm Painting . 12.6 x 9.4 x 0 inch

€450

Photography, Vigilant, Monica Denevan

Monica Denevan

Photography . 40 x 50 cm Photography . 15.7 x 19.7 inch

€1,627

Fine Art Drawings, Maternity, Antoni Clavé

Antoni Clavé

Fine Art Drawings . 25.5 x 21 cm Fine Art Drawings . 10 x 8.3 inch

€6,500

Photography, Formaggi, Nilgun Sezgin

Nilgun Sezgin

Photography . 45 x 30 x 0.1 cm Photography . 17.7 x 11.8 x 0 inch

€240

Print, The Vans, Ronnie Wood

Ronnie Wood

Print . 35.6 x 27.9 x 1.3 cm Print . 14 x 11 x 0.5 inch

€1,798

Painting, Famille, Roberto Gherardi

Roberto Gherardi

Painting . 36 x 50 x 1 cm Painting . 14.2 x 19.7 x 0.4 inch

€888

Painting, Salou, Josep Sala

Josep Sala

Painting . 24 x 33 x 1 cm Painting . 9.4 x 13 x 0.4 inch

€1,500

Fine Art Drawings, Sans titre, Camille Adra

Camille Adra

Fine Art Drawings . 30 x 40 cm Fine Art Drawings . 11.8 x 15.7 inch

€200

Fine Art Drawings, Alter Ego, Nino Devdariani

Nino Devdariani

Fine Art Drawings . 34 x 43 x 0.1 cm Fine Art Drawings . 13.4 x 16.9 x 0 inch

€1,200

Painting, Charpennes, Paul Ward

Paul Ward

Painting . 30 x 41.9 x 3.3 cm Painting . 11.8 x 16.5 x 1.3 inch

€1,664

Painting, Friends, Kate Aksen

Kate Aksen

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

€1,750

Fine Art Drawings, Tramway, Anna Wardega

Anna Wardega

Fine Art Drawings . 21 x 30 cm Fine Art Drawings . 8.3 x 11.8 inch

€200