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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Fine Art Drawings, Getting Warm, Eter Merkviladze

Eter Merkviladze

Fine Art Drawings . 43 x 30 x 0.2 cm Fine Art Drawings . 16.9 x 11.8 x 0.1 inch

€600

Painting, Naxi I, Cécile Girard

Cécile Girard

Painting . 28 x 22 x 1 cm Painting . 11 x 8.7 x 0.4 inch

€600

Painting, Canopy Dreams, Perry Haddock

Perry Haddock

Painting . 27.9 x 35.6 x 0.5 cm Painting . 11 x 14 x 0.2 inch

€518

Photography, Street 3, Nicholas Winter

Nicholas Winter

Photography . 40 x 40 cm Photography . 15.7 x 15.7 inch

€980

Painting, Insolite, Florence V. Henric

Florence V. Henric

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

€500

Painting, My Travel, Kamsar Ohanyan

Kamsar Ohanyan

Painting . 50 x 40 x 3 cm Painting . 19.7 x 15.7 x 1.2 inch

€500

Painting, Un parc, Manuela Ferreira

Manuela Ferreira

Painting . 30 x 40 x 2.5 cm Painting . 11.8 x 15.7 x 1 inch

€230

Painting, Old yard, Mishurovsky Victor

Mishurovsky Victor

Painting . 33 x 48 x 2 cm Painting . 13 x 18.9 x 0.8 inch

€295

Painting, With Nature, Gegham Hunanyan

Gegham Hunanyan

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

€323 €274

Painting, Spring, Mitko Dimitrov

Mitko Dimitrov

Painting . 33.5 x 33.5 x 2 cm Painting . 13.2 x 13.2 x 0.8 inch

€290

Painting, Untitled #4, Lucio Forte

Lucio Forte

Painting . 21 x 29 x 0.3 cm Painting . 8.3 x 11.4 x 0.1 inch

€89

Painting, Playground, Lucio Forte

Lucio Forte

Painting . 31 x 41 x 0.3 cm Painting . 12.2 x 16.1 x 0.1 inch

€89

Fine Art Drawings, Merchant House, Alla Kechedzhan

Alla Kechedzhan

Fine Art Drawings . 40 x 30 x 0.3 cm Fine Art Drawings . 15.7 x 11.8 x 0.1 inch

€4,500

Photography, Unicorn 1, Samsofy

Samsofy

Photography . 24 x 36 x 1 cm Photography . 9.4 x 14.2 x 0.4 inch

€60

Painting, At the Perzente, Gary Westall

Gary Westall

Painting . 40.1 x 30 x 2 cm Painting . 15.8 x 11.8 x 0.8 inch

€692

Painting, Externsteine I, Gary Westall

Gary Westall

Painting . 30 x 24.1 x 0.5 cm Painting . 11.8 x 9.5 x 0.2 inch

€578

Painting, Externsteine II, Gary Westall

Gary Westall

Painting . 30 x 24.1 x 0.5 cm Painting . 11.8 x 9.5 x 0.2 inch

€578

Painting, Kirchdorf II, Gary Westall

Gary Westall

Painting . 30 x 24.1 x 0.5 cm Painting . 11.8 x 9.5 x 0.2 inch

€614

Painting, Kirchdorf III, Gary Westall

Gary Westall

Painting . 30 x 24.1 x 0.5 cm Painting . 11.8 x 9.5 x 0.2 inch

€613

Photography, Trees, Nicholas Winter

Nicholas Winter

Photography . 40 x 40 cm Photography . 15.7 x 15.7 inch

€980

Painting, The Last Ray, Oleg Litvinov

Oleg Litvinov

Painting . 43.5 x 49 x 2 cm Painting . 17.1 x 19.3 x 0.8 inch

€205

Painting, Oak, Autumn, Oleg Litvinov

Oleg Litvinov

Painting . 43 x 48.5 x 2 cm Painting . 16.9 x 19.1 x 0.8 inch

€205

Painting, Garden Care, Kovalenko Ivan

Kovalenko Ivan

Painting . 30 x 50 x 2 cm Painting . 11.8 x 19.7 x 0.8 inch

€205

Painting, Dawn, Kovalenko Ivan

Kovalenko Ivan

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

€290

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