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, Bloom 22, Rita Alaoui

Rita Alaoui

Fine Art Drawings . 49.8 x 34.8 x 0.3 cm Fine Art Drawings . 19.6 x 13.7 x 0.1 inch

€1,350

Painting, Matcha tea, Galya Popova

Galya Popova

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

€1,440

Painting, Untitled, Fatima El Hajj

Fatima El Hajj

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

€5,000

Painting, Fleur III, Yong Chen

Yong Chen

Painting . 40 x 30 x 1 cm Painting . 15.7 x 11.8 x 0.4 inch

€500

Painting, Bright Beauty, Grace Diehl

Grace Diehl

Painting . 35.6 x 27.9 x 1.8 cm Painting . 14 x 11 x 0.7 inch

€829

Painting, Loading, Olena Kishkurno

Olena Kishkurno

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

€800

Print, Delicado, Gustavo Rimada

Gustavo Rimada

Print . 35.6 x 35.6 cm Print . 14 x 14 inch

€370

Photography, Deliciosa, Sophie Zénon

Sophie Zénon

Photography . 28 x 20 x 1 cm Photography . 11 x 7.9 x 0.4 inch

€5,200

Painting, Jamaika, Max Zuber

Max Zuber

Painting . 40 x 30 x 3 cm Painting . 15.7 x 11.8 x 1.2 inch

€5,000

Painting, Sunshie state 1.1, Olga Tiho

Olga Tiho

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

€630

Painting, Figgy Faiga, Rachel Rose

Rachel Rose

Painting . 35.5 x 27.9 x 2 cm Painting . 14 x 11 x 0.8 inch

€2,812

Painting, Quince Blossom, Lucy Cobern

Lucy Cobern

Painting . 33.5 x 35.5 x 0.1 cm Painting . 13.2 x 14 x 0 inch

€4,000

Painting, Grand Slam, Gregg Smith

Gregg Smith

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

€900

Fine Art Drawings, Pacific Sugar, Chloe Marsters

Chloe Marsters

Fine Art Drawings . 40 x 28.7 x 1 cm Fine Art Drawings . 15.7 x 11.3 x 0.4 inch

€850

Painting, Water study, Elie Chammaa

Elie Chammaa

Painting . 30 x 40 x 1 cm Painting . 11.8 x 15.7 x 0.4 inch

€450

Painting, Kiss, Galya Popova

Galya Popova

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

€960

Painting, White spring, Galya Popova

Galya Popova

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

€960

Fine Art Drawings, Mallow, Kateryna Ocheredko

Kateryna Ocheredko

Fine Art Drawings . 30 x 20 x 0.1 cm Fine Art Drawings . 11.8 x 7.9 x 0 inch

€180

Fine Art Drawings, Dame en fleur, Flo. M

Flo. M

Fine Art Drawings . 30 x 21 x 0.5 cm Fine Art Drawings . 11.8 x 8.3 x 0.2 inch

€200

Painting, Holland tulips, Galya Popova

Galya Popova

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

€960

Sculpture, Cradle, Linda Brunker

Linda Brunker

Sculpture . 46 x 23 x 21 cm Sculpture . 18.1 x 9.1 x 8.3 inch

€5,100

Painting, Untitled, Mauro Bellucci

Mauro Bellucci

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

€1,000

Painting, Fleur Bleue, Delphine Hogarth

Delphine Hogarth

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

€1,749

Photography, Ameliae, Sophie Zénon

Sophie Zénon

Photography . 28 x 20 x 1 cm Photography . 11 x 7.9 x 0.4 inch

€5,200

Painting, Basalt Caves_01, Zsolt Bukta

Zsolt Bukta

Painting . 21 x 30 x 2 cm Painting . 8.3 x 11.8 x 0.8 inch

€1,100

Fine Art Drawings, Forest fruits, Baptiste Laurent

Baptiste Laurent

Fine Art Drawings . 50 x 35 x 0.3 cm Fine Art Drawings . 19.7 x 13.8 x 0.1 inch

€450

Painting, Bloom. Etude, Galya Popova

Galya Popova

Painting . 30 x 20 x 0.5 cm Painting . 11.8 x 7.9 x 0.2 inch

€500

Painting, Printemps II, Xiu

Xiu

Painting . 50 x 20 x 1 cm Painting . 19.7 x 7.9 x 0.4 inch

€600

Painting, Muscaris, Pol Ledent

Pol Ledent

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

€600

Painting, Wisteria, Lauren Acton

Lauren Acton

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

€1,395

Photography, Symétrie, Catherine Fabre

Catherine Fabre

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

€450

Painting, Homeland, Rolanda Jongerius

Rolanda Jongerius

Painting . 30 x 21 x 3 cm Painting . 11.8 x 8.3 x 1.2 inch

€1,000

Painting, Many Roses, Anastassia Skopp

Anastassia Skopp

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

€450

Painting, Gaugalin 2, Matthieu de Malte

Matthieu de Malte

Painting . 29.7 x 21 x 0.5 cm Painting . 11.7 x 8.3 x 0.2 inch

€400