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, Tristesse, Marion Lachant

Marion Lachant

Painting . 50 x 50 x 2.7 cm Painting . 19.7 x 19.7 x 1.1 inch

€300

Painting, Ombres, Âme Sauvage

Âme Sauvage

Painting . 40 x 40 x 2.4 cm Painting . 15.7 x 15.7 x 0.9 inch

€320

Print, Potion Shark, Ske

Ske

Print . 42 x 29.7 x 0.1 cm Print . 16.5 x 11.7 x 0 inch

€175

Fine Art Drawings, Uppercut, Herve Malcom Thomas

Herve Malcom Thomas

Fine Art Drawings . 40 x 30 x 0.1 cm Fine Art Drawings . 15.7 x 11.8 x 0 inch

€240

Painting, Smoking girl in red, cArye

cArye

Painting . 43 x 30 x 2 cm Painting . 16.9 x 11.8 x 0.8 inch

€240

Painting, Sunshie state 1.3, Olga Tiho

Olga Tiho

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

€633

Photography, Varkala, Shank Arte

Shank Arte

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

€400

Sculpture, Mini Skate Totem, Tarek

Tarek

Sculpture . 43 x 12.5 x 2 cm Sculpture . 16.9 x 4.9 x 0.8 inch

€230

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

€1,356

Painting, Blue Lake 12, Hilary Winfield

Hilary Winfield

Painting . 45.7 x 45.7 x 3.8 cm Painting . 18 x 18 x 1.5 inch

€267

Painting, Réalité, Fabien Gäng

Fabien Gäng

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

€1,750

Fine Art Drawings, Jazzy, Jazzu

Jazzu

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

€400

Painting, Pollen II, Michael Grine

Michael Grine

Painting . 35.6 x 27.9 x 0.3 cm Painting . 14 x 11 x 0.1 inch

€362

Sculpture, Delicate (4), Adi Michael

Adi Michael

Sculpture . 34 x 30 x 18 cm Sculpture . 13.4 x 11.8 x 7.1 inch

€3,616

Sculpture, Fusion, Mcaceramica

Mcaceramica

Sculpture . 46 x 46 x 10 cm Sculpture . 18.1 x 18.1 x 3.9 inch

€2,000

Painting, Fashion Vogue, Dr. Love

Dr. Love

Painting . 40 x 30 x 0.2 cm Painting . 15.7 x 11.8 x 0.1 inch

€50

Painting, Arbre rouge, Eurgal

Eurgal

Painting . 40 x 40 x 2.5 cm Painting . 15.7 x 15.7 x 1 inch

€1,200

Painting, Road to the sea, Elena Lukina

Elena Lukina

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

€1,080

Painting, Carnival, Galya Popova

Galya Popova

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

€1,600

Photography, Birds #6, Karine Nicolleau

Karine Nicolleau

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

€250

Fine Art Drawings, Vive les fleurs, Seb Paul Michel

Seb Paul Michel

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

€69

Painting, Shadowplay, Robert Inestroza

Robert Inestroza

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

€500

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, Nyssia, Anne Billen

Anne Billen

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

€850

Painting, Bones, Weronika Dylag

Weronika Dylag

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

€800

Sculpture, Sedientos, Rodo Padilla

Rodo Padilla

Sculpture . 18 x 37 x 38 cm Sculpture . 7.1 x 14.6 x 15 inch

€3,400

Sculpture, Something to suck 493, Hersk

Hersk

Sculpture . 44 x 34 x 30 cm Sculpture . 17.3 x 13.4 x 11.8 inch

€1,200

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, Sans titre 4, Rong Su

Rong Su

Painting . 40 x 30 x 4 cm Painting . 15.7 x 11.8 x 1.6 inch

€800

Painting, Sunshie state 1.2, Olga Tiho

Olga Tiho

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

€633

Sculpture, From the sea, Ron Zohar

Ron Zohar

Sculpture . 38 x 24 x 26 cm Sculpture . 15 x 9.4 x 10.2 inch

€3,500

Print, Datawood Boy, Ske

Ske

Print . 50 x 50 x 0.3 cm Print . 19.7 x 19.7 x 0.1 inch

€490

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