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, Lungo il Ticino, Luigi Comolli

Luigi Comolli

Painting . 39.5 x 49.7 x 0.5 cm Painting . 15.6 x 19.6 x 0.2 inch

€994

Painting, Sunset No2, Elena Petrova

Elena Petrova

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

€343

Painting, Scenery 1, Anastasya Lyulina

Anastasya Lyulina

Painting . 40.5 x 30.5 x 1 cm Painting . 15.9 x 12 x 0.4 inch

€361

Painting, Hebrides 1, Shawn Marshall

Shawn Marshall

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

€858

Painting, Marine, Jacques Meunier

Jacques Meunier

Painting . 18 x 26 x 0.1 cm Painting . 7.1 x 10.2 x 0 inch

€300

Painting, My Neon LA, Amy Bernays

Amy Bernays

Painting . 40.6 x 50.8 x 0.3 cm Painting . 16 x 20 x 0.1 inch

€992

Painting, Tropical, Sergio Ceccotti

Sergio Ceccotti

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

€2,800

Painting, Sans titre, Matthieu Dorval

Matthieu Dorval

Painting . 33 x 41 x 2 cm Painting . 13 x 16.1 x 0.8 inch

€1,200

Painting, Au large, Bruno Spadaro

Bruno Spadaro

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

€840

Painting, Birches, Vermont, Janet Dyer

Janet Dyer

Painting . 40.6 x 50.8 x 2 cm Painting . 16 x 20 x 0.8 inch

€605

Photography, #5, Nicolas Fontas

#5

Nicolas Fontas

Photography . 20 x 30 x 0.1 cm Photography . 7.9 x 11.8 x 0 inch

€120

Painting, Estrats, David Casals

David Casals

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

€1,050

Photography, Untitled #42, Josef Nadj

Josef Nadj

Photography . 25 x 30 cm Photography . 9.8 x 11.8 inch

€1,100

Painting, Victoria, Gaëlle Wagner

Gaëlle Wagner

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

€690

Painting, Port, Kovalenko Ivan

Kovalenko Ivan

Painting . 20 x 30 x 2 cm Painting . 7.9 x 11.8 x 0.8 inch

€210

Painting, Reflection 1, Greta Olivas

Greta Olivas

Painting . 31 x 31 x 3 cm Painting . 12.2 x 12.2 x 1.2 inch

€1,500

Painting, Hanami 2, Kerstin Paillard

Kerstin Paillard

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

€1,500

Painting, Nederland, Richard Szkutnik

Richard Szkutnik

Painting . 40.6 x 50.8 x 0.8 cm Painting . 16 x 20 x 0.3 inch

€1,480

Painting, Arrive, Dena Haden

Dena Haden

Painting . 50 x 40 x 0.2 cm Painting . 19.7 x 15.7 x 0.1 inch

€500

Painting, Vulpecula, Da Gyeom Jung

Da Gyeom Jung

Painting . 33.4 x 24.2 x 1 cm Painting . 13.1 x 9.5 x 0.4 inch

€500

Painting, Bodega Bay, Ramya Sarvesh

Ramya Sarvesh

Painting . 30.5 x 40.6 x 2.5 cm Painting . 12 x 16 x 1 inch

€519

Painting, Poppy field, Agnes Nicholson

Agnes Nicholson

Painting . 40.6 x 50.8 x 2.5 cm Painting . 16 x 20 x 1 inch

€912

Photography, Beach, Justina Napiorkowska

Justina Napiorkowska

Photography . 30 x 30 cm Photography . 11.8 x 11.8 inch

€250

Painting, Caminant, David Casals

David Casals

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

€1,050

Painting, Watch Your Step, Craig Moran

Craig Moran

Painting . 35.6 x 45.7 x 0.3 cm Painting . 14 x 18 x 0.1 inch

€487

Painting, Lola, Gaëlle Wagner

Gaëlle Wagner

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

€690

Painting, Devenir, Florence V. Henric

Florence V. Henric

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

€850

Painting, Above the sea, Galya Popova

Galya Popova

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

€1,120