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, Tisana, Luigi Iona

Luigi Iona

Painting . 30 x 32 x 0.3 cm Painting . 11.8 x 12.6 x 0.1 inch

€145

Painting, Asian Cuisine, Kosta Morr

Kosta Morr

Painting . 42 x 30 x 0.1 cm Painting . 16.5 x 11.8 x 0 inch

€200

Painting, Watch II, Raül Mateo

Raül Mateo

Painting . 27 x 22 x 5 cm Painting . 10.6 x 8.7 x 2 inch

€650

Painting, Puple still life, Pol Ledent

Pol Ledent

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

€500

Painting, Roses, AVEL Muñoz

AVEL Muñoz

Painting . 36 x 28 x 3 cm Painting . 14.2 x 11 x 1.2 inch

€800

Painting, Mundus, Lucio Forte

Lucio Forte

Painting . 29.7 x 40 x 0.1 cm Painting . 11.7 x 15.7 x 0 inch

€130

Painting, red banane, PyB

PyB

Painting . 30 x 30 x 8 cm Painting . 11.8 x 11.8 x 3.1 inch

€200

Painting, Pomme, Pascal Marlin

Pascal Marlin

Painting . 27 x 35 x 3 cm Painting . 10.6 x 13.8 x 1.2 inch

€350

Painting, Poires, Pascal Marlin

Pascal Marlin

Painting . 27 x 35 x 3 cm Painting . 10.6 x 13.8 x 1.2 inch

€350

Painting, Banane, Pascal Marlin

Pascal Marlin

Painting . 27 x 35 x 3 cm Painting . 10.6 x 13.8 x 1.2 inch

€350

Painting, Des vagues, Charles Belle

Charles Belle

Painting . 50 x 50 x 1.5 cm Painting . 19.7 x 19.7 x 0.6 inch

€10,000

Painting, Blue tulips, Pol Ledent

Pol Ledent

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

€350

Painting, Green still life, Pol Ledent

Pol Ledent

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

€500

Painting, Bodies&Spaces 5, Elena Done

Elena Done

Painting . 45.7 x 38.1 x 3.6 cm Painting . 18 x 15 x 1.4 inch

€413

Painting, Pawn, Voichenko Sergiy

Voichenko Sergiy

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

€415

Painting, Spring lilac, Vahe Bagumyan

Vahe Bagumyan

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

€330

Painting, Memories 6, Almazan Miquel

Almazan Miquel

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

€750

Painting, Air Jordan blue, PyB

PyB

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

€200

Painting, Jardin, Pascal Marlin

Pascal Marlin

Painting . 35 x 27 x 2 cm Painting . 13.8 x 10.6 x 0.8 inch

€300

Painting, Fleurs, Pascal Marlin

Pascal Marlin

Painting . 35 x 27 x 2 cm Painting . 13.8 x 10.6 x 0.8 inch

€300

Painting, Red rose, Leonid K.

Leonid K.

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

€249

Painting, Douglass Huth, Lucy Cobern

Lucy Cobern

Painting . 33.5 x 42 x 0.1 cm Painting . 13.2 x 16.5 x 0 inch

€4,000

Painting, Falu Red, Peipei Li

Peipei Li

Painting . 30.48 x 40.64 x 3 cm Painting . 12 x 16 x 1.2 inch

€750

Painting, New floral, Deborah Cushman

Deborah Cushman

Painting . 35 x 28 x 3 cm Painting . 13.8 x 11 x 1.2 inch

€750

Painting, Still life, Zhang Wei Guang

Zhang Wei Guang

Painting . 23 x 40 x 2 cm Painting . 9.1 x 15.7 x 0.8 inch

€11,400

Fine Art Drawings, 4 Plums, Nigel Bailey

Nigel Bailey

Fine Art Drawings . 35.6 x 43.2 x 0.1 cm Fine Art Drawings . 14 x 17 x 0 inch

€400

Painting, Wisteria, Mily ART

Mily ART

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

€321

Painting, Apples, Leonid K.

Leonid K.

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

€272

Fine Art Drawings, Filet, Maksim Lopez

Maksim Lopez

Fine Art Drawings . 35 x 25 x 1 cm Fine Art Drawings . 13.8 x 9.8 x 0.4 inch

€250

Painting, Red Flower, Vasily Korkishko

Vasily Korkishko

Painting . 35 x 30 x 2 cm Painting . 13.8 x 11.8 x 0.8 inch

€680

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