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…

Read more
Painting, 0118.6, Tracey Adams

Tracey Adams

Painting . 48 x 32 cm Painting . 18.9 x 12.6 inch

€1,571

Painting, Cactus, Delphine Hogarth

Delphine Hogarth

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

€1,749

Painting, Sentimental, Sergio Ceccotti

Sergio Ceccotti

Painting . 50 x 35 x 1 cm Painting . 19.7 x 13.8 x 0.4 inch

€2,800

Painting, A little treasure, Tom Miller

Tom Miller

Painting . 40.6 x 40.6 x 3.8 cm Painting . 16 x 16 x 1.5 inch

€830

Photography, Imsouane, Rodrigo

Rodrigo

Photography . 25.4 x 19.1 x 0.1 cm Photography . 10 x 7.5 x 0 inch

€1,250

Print, Cocktails 1, Claude Cruz

Claude Cruz

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

€260

Painting, Quiet day, Irina Trushkova

Irina Trushkova

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

€2,100

Fine Art Drawings, 5H, Philippe Huart

5H

Philippe Huart

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

€3,000

Painting, Endless moment, Galya Popova

Galya Popova

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

€960

Painting, Peonies, Fatima Erkenova

Fatima Erkenova

Painting . 35.5 x 45.5 x 1.5 cm Painting . 14 x 17.9 x 0.6 inch

€1,025

Painting, Le géranium, Pierre Sojo

Pierre Sojo

Painting . 41 x 33 x 1 cm Painting . 16.1 x 13 x 0.4 inch

€1,300

Painting, Sweet pears, Marlene Llanes

Marlene Llanes

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

€851

Painting, Relatives, Galya Popova

Galya Popova

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

€1,120

Painting, Sola 13 (1), Sola Puig

Sola Puig

Painting . 23 x 41 x 2 cm Painting . 9.1 x 16.1 x 0.8 inch

€1,300

Painting, Flower Dress, Matt Lively

Matt Lively

Painting . 50.8 x 50.8 x 5.1 cm Painting . 20 x 20 x 2 inch

€3,066

Painting, Magnolia - Selene, Poovi Art

Poovi Art

Painting . 50.8 x 40.6 x 5.1 cm Painting . 20 x 16 x 2 inch

€503

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

€1,373

Painting, Four figs, Galya Popova

Galya Popova

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

€1,440

Fine Art Drawings, All Shook Up, Terrece Beesley

Terrece Beesley

Fine Art Drawings . 45.7 x 40.6 x 1.3 cm Fine Art Drawings . 18 x 16 x 0.5 inch

€1,638

Painting, Les citrons, David Jamin

David Jamin

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

€690

Painting, Mates, Marcelo Novo

Marcelo Novo

Painting . 40.6 x 50.8 x 3.8 cm Painting . 16 x 20 x 1.5 inch

€1,217

Painting, Bright Beauty, Grace Diehl

Grace Diehl

Painting . 35.6 x 27.9 x 1.8 cm Painting . 14 x 11 x 0.7 inch

€843

Painting, Chair series 5, Charles Choi

Charles Choi

Painting . 50.8 x 40.6 x 5.1 cm Painting . 20 x 16 x 2 inch

€968

Painting, Fried Fish, Vyusal Rain

Vyusal Rain

Painting . 19.8 x 30.2 x 2 cm Painting . 7.8 x 11.9 x 0.8 inch

€117

Photography, Voir, Marie VDB

Marie VDB

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

€600

Painting, Cedro, Galya Popova

Galya Popova

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

€1,120

Painting, White spring, Galya Popova

Galya Popova

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

€1,440

Painting, Zimt, Galya Popova

Galya Popova

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

€1,280

Painting, Sola 3, Sola Puig

Sola Puig

Painting . 24 x 32 x 1 cm Painting . 9.4 x 12.6 x 0.4 inch

€1,250

Painting, Harlequinn Green, Peipei Li

Peipei Li

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

€750

Painting, Racconto, Primo Formenti

Primo Formenti

Painting . 20 x 30 x 5 cm Painting . 7.9 x 11.8 x 2 inch

€380

Print, Fiddlemania II, Arman

Arman

Print . 46 x 41 cm Print . 18.1 x 16.1 inch

€450

Painting, Oranges, Ketevan Kacharava

Ketevan Kacharava

Painting . 30 x 40 x 3 cm Painting . 11.8 x 15.7 x 1.2 inch

€1,000

Photography, Untitled, Enrique Seguí

Enrique Seguí

Photography . 30 x 45 x 0.1 cm Photography . 11.8 x 17.7 x 0 inch

€600

Print, Lithographie, Daneïs

Daneïs

Print . 28.5 x 37 x 0.2 cm Print . 11.2 x 14.6 x 0.1 inch

€190

Print, Fiddlemania I, Arman

Arman

Print . 46 x 41 cm Print . 18.1 x 16.1 inch

€450

Painting, 0118.2, Tracey Adams

Tracey Adams

Painting . 48 x 32 cm Painting . 18.9 x 12.6 inch

€1,571

Painting, Matcha tea, Galya Popova

Galya Popova

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

€1,440