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, Emotion 20210827, Yaki Li

Yaki Li

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

€185

Painting, Angela II, Sheila Tajima

Sheila Tajima

Painting . 30.5 x 30.5 x 2 cm Painting . 12 x 12 x 0.8 inch

€248

Print, Le quatuor, Gen Paul

Gen Paul

Print . 27.8 x 36.6 x 0.1 cm Print . 10.9 x 14.4 x 0 inch

€300

Fine Art Drawings, In the Ferns, Alyona Masterkova

Alyona Masterkova

Fine Art Drawings . 28 x 35 x 0.1 cm Fine Art Drawings . 11 x 13.8 x 0 inch

€352

Fine Art Drawings, Dreams, Alyona Masterkova

Alyona Masterkova

Fine Art Drawings . 28 x 35 x 0.1 cm Fine Art Drawings . 11 x 13.8 x 0 inch

€352

Painting, Revo, Valérie Lamarre

Valérie Lamarre

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

€520

Fine Art Drawings, Soulmates No. 1, Katherine Filice

Katherine Filice

Fine Art Drawings . 48.3 x 26.7 x 2.5 cm Fine Art Drawings . 19 x 10.5 x 1 inch

€900

Fine Art Drawings, Enfanter, Fanny Gosse

Fanny Gosse

Fine Art Drawings . 32 x 24 x 0.1 cm Fine Art Drawings . 12.6 x 9.4 x 0 inch

€350

Fine Art Drawings, Peace, Alyona Masterkova

Alyona Masterkova

Fine Art Drawings . 28 x 35 x 0.1 cm Fine Art Drawings . 11 x 13.8 x 0 inch

€352

Painting, Méandres, Chantal Proulx

Chantal Proulx

Painting . 41 x 41 x 4 cm Painting . 16.1 x 16.1 x 1.6 inch

€442

Painting, Figures, Vladimir Kordiukov

Vladimir Kordiukov

Painting . 25 x 33 x 0.1 cm Painting . 9.8 x 13 x 0 inch

€640

Painting, Trees, Stanislav Bojankov

Stanislav Bojankov

Painting . 50 x 40 x 0.5 cm Painting . 19.7 x 15.7 x 0.2 inch

€450 €405

Painting, Rocks, Peter Tovpev

Peter Tovpev

Painting . 35 x 50 x 2 cm Painting . 13.8 x 19.7 x 0.8 inch

€270

Fine Art Drawings, Untitled (2), Mansour El Habre

Mansour El Habre

Fine Art Drawings . 40 x 30 x 1 cm Fine Art Drawings . 15.7 x 11.8 x 0.4 inch

€1,900

Fine Art Drawings, Light waves, Ekaterina Zaznova

Ekaterina Zaznova

Fine Art Drawings . 23 x 30.5 x 0.1 cm Fine Art Drawings . 9.1 x 12 x 0 inch

€384

Painting, Selo - M, Ivan Tzonev

Ivan Tzonev

Painting . 29 x 29 x 3.5 cm Painting . 11.4 x 11.4 x 1.4 inch

€160

Painting, Laminia, Milena Makani

Milena Makani

Painting . 35 x 28 cm Painting . 13.8 x 11 inch

€507

Fine Art Drawings, Where are you? 1, Gina Vor

Gina Vor

Fine Art Drawings . 32 x 24 x 0.1 cm Fine Art Drawings . 12.6 x 9.4 x 0 inch

€150

Painting, Untitled, Vicente Verdú

Vicente Verdú

Painting . 22.2 x 28.9 cm Painting . 8.7 x 11.4 inch

€500

Sculpture, U Cane, PickWick

PickWick

Sculpture . 26 x 22 x 7 cm Sculpture . 10.2 x 8.7 x 2.8 inch

€300

Painting, Malibu 1, Artiste Ouvrier

Artiste Ouvrier

Painting . 30 x 30 cm Painting . 11.8 x 11.8 inch

€200

Print, Black Fury, DLGR

DLGR

Print . 50 x 50 cm Print . 19.7 x 19.7 inch

€79

Fine Art Drawings, March has come, Isabelle Hirtzig

Isabelle Hirtzig

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

€145

Painting, Evening, Ivanyuk Oleksiy

Ivanyuk Oleksiy

Painting . 25 x 30 x 2 cm Painting . 9.8 x 11.8 x 0.8 inch

€225

Painting, Summer day, Ivanyuk Oleksiy

Ivanyuk Oleksiy

Painting . 25 x 30 x 2 cm Painting . 9.8 x 11.8 x 0.8 inch

€225

Painting, Gladiator, Gegham Hunanyan

Gegham Hunanyan

Painting . 50 x 35 x 2 cm Painting . 19.7 x 13.8 x 0.8 inch

€316 €269

Painting, Flower, Eklektik

Eklektik

Painting . 29 x 29 x 3.5 cm Painting . 11.4 x 11.4 x 1.4 inch

€280

Fine Art Drawings, Enigma, Michael Alan

Michael Alan

Fine Art Drawings . 33 x 27.3 x 0.1 cm Fine Art Drawings . 13 x 10.75 x 0.04 inch

€3,400

Fine Art Drawings, Patience, Fred Borghesi

Fred Borghesi

Fine Art Drawings . 30 x 21 x 0.3 cm Fine Art Drawings . 11.8 x 8.3 x 0.1 inch

€2,800

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