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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Sculpture, Pro Thèse, Anne Millot

Anne Millot

Sculpture . 27 x 13 x 17 cm Sculpture . 10.6 x 5.1 x 6.7 inch

€1,500

Sculpture, Narcisse, Nili Pincas

Nili Pincas

Sculpture . 46 x 20 x 33 cm Sculpture . 18.1 x 7.9 x 13 inch

€4,300

Fine Art Drawings, Queen Camilla, Manuel Santelices

Manuel Santelices

Fine Art Drawings . 30.5 x 22.9 x 0.3 cm Fine Art Drawings . 12 x 9 x 0.1 inch

€911

Sculpture, Never Stop Dreaming, Santicri

Santicri

Sculpture . 30 x 15 x 10 cm Sculpture . 11.8 x 5.9 x 3.9 inch

€250

Painting, Portrait, Guy Ghazanchyan

Guy Ghazanchyan

Painting . 42 x 30 x 0.3 cm Painting . 16.5 x 11.8 x 0.1 inch

€600 €528

Painting, Action, Isabelle Hirtzig

Isabelle Hirtzig

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

€165

Painting, She VI, Isabelle Hirtzig

Isabelle Hirtzig

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

€120

Print, The Idol, Massimo Campigli

Massimo Campigli

Print . 50 x 35 x 0.2 cm Print . 19.7 x 13.8 x 0.1 inch

€460

Painting, Warm hugs, Irish Galon

Irish Galon

Painting . 30 x 23 x 1 cm Painting . 11.8 x 9.1 x 0.4 inch

€1,000

Painting, Farmers, Jun Peng Wu

Jun Peng Wu

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

€600

Photography, El tabaquero, James Sparshatt

James Sparshatt

Photography . 35 x 35 x 1 cm Photography . 13.8 x 13.8 x 0.4 inch

€723

Painting, Fin de soirée, Nef

Nef

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

€300

Painting, Reflexion, Nawel Aubert

Nawel Aubert

Painting . 30 x 30 x 2.5 cm Painting . 11.8 x 11.8 x 1 inch

€220

Painting, Head#01, Olesya Gonserovskaya

Olesya Gonserovskaya

Painting . 41.5 x 30 x 0.1 cm Painting . 16.3 x 11.8 x 0 inch

€450

Print, Lucid Dreamer, Saba Shengelia

Saba Shengelia

Print . 45.16 x 33.87 x 0.2 cm Print . 17.8 x 13.3 x 0.1 inch

€500

Painting, Profil de femme, Pascal Marlin

Pascal Marlin

Painting . 46 x 38 x 2 cm Painting . 18.1 x 15 x 0.8 inch

€450 €383

Fine Art Drawings, Je bois la vie, Maï

Maï

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

€400

Painting, Small Kim, Alfredo Scaroina

Alfredo Scaroina

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

€200

Painting, Homer, Maxime Frairot

Maxime Frairot

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

€180

Painting, Donald Trump, Eduardo Candil

Eduardo Candil

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

€600

Painting, Dreamer, Yelena Dilanyan

Yelena Dilanyan

Painting . 29.5 x 23.5 x 3 cm Painting . 11.6 x 9.3 x 1.2 inch

€2,500

Sculpture, Tiny Dancer V, Will Budgett

Will Budgett

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

€2,650

Sculpture, La penseuse, Afat One

Afat One

Sculpture . 50 x 30 x 30 cm Sculpture . 19.7 x 11.8 x 11.8 inch

€6,500

Photography, Pola Molitor, Gil Rigoulet

Gil Rigoulet

Photography . 40 x 30 x 0.01 cm Photography . 15.7 x 11.8 x 0 inch

€2,500

Photography, Dream Lake 2, Majo Jurcik

Majo Jurcik

Photography . 28 x 18.6 cm Photography . 11 x 7.3 inch

€300

Fine Art Drawings, Untitled (48), Mansour El Habre

Mansour El Habre

Fine Art Drawings . 30 x 42 x 1 cm Fine Art Drawings . 11.8 x 16.5 x 0.4 inch

€1,900