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, Paradise, Boris Serdyuk

Boris Serdyuk

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

€230

Painting, Fourvière, Paul Ward

Paul Ward

Painting . 27.9 x 20.3 x 1.3 cm Painting . 11 x 8 x 0.5 inch

€712

Painting, Ensemble, Albena Vatcheva

Albena Vatcheva

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

€699 €665

Photography, #2, Julien Espiaut

#2

Julien Espiaut

Photography . 29.7 x 21 x 0.1 cm Photography . 11.7 x 8.3 x 0 inch

€190

Painting, Venise, Isabelle Marie

Isabelle Marie

Painting . 27 x 22 x 2 cm Painting . 10.6 x 8.7 x 0.8 inch

€400

Painting, Summer, Kristine Kvitka

Kristine Kvitka

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

€710

Painting, Paris, Samiran Boruah

Samiran Boruah

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

€700 €490

Painting, Town Castle, Mykola Bodnar

Mykola Bodnar

Painting . 33 x 25 x 1 cm Painting . 13 x 9.8 x 0.4 inch

€750

Painting, City Life, Helena Liberman

Helena Liberman

Painting . 33 x 32 x 1.5 cm Painting . 13 x 12.6 x 0.6 inch

€447

Painting, 6 Aurey, Mario Domenicale

Mario Domenicale

Painting . 24 x 32 x 0.3 cm Painting . 9.4 x 12.6 x 0.1 inch

€180

Painting, Venice, Kristina Mallen

Kristina Mallen

Painting . 39.5 x 39.5 x 1 cm Painting . 15.6 x 15.6 x 0.4 inch

€950

Photography, Hotel Europe, Jonathan Dy

Jonathan Dy

Photography . 20 x 26.57 cm Photography . 7.9 x 10.5 inch

€250

Photography, Entre aguas, Tere Duro

Tere Duro

Photography . 50 x 33 cm Photography . 19.7 x 13 inch

€500

Painting, Trap I, Michael Grine

Michael Grine

Painting . 35.6 x 27.9 x 0 cm Painting . 14 x 11 x 0.01 inch

€274

Photography, #9, Julien Espiaut

#9

Julien Espiaut

Photography . 29.7 x 21 x 0.1 cm Photography . 11.7 x 8.3 x 0 inch

€190

Painting, Sweet home, Serg K.

Serg K.

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

€325

Painting, Mountain village, Sergiy A.

Sergiy A.

Painting . 26 x 39 x 2 cm Painting . 10.2 x 15.4 x 0.8 inch

€255

Painting, Panorama, Sergiy A.

Sergiy A.

Painting . 26 x 38 x 2 cm Painting . 10.2 x 15 x 0.8 inch

€255

Painting, Sunny Day, Valery Savenets

Valery Savenets

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

€280

Photography, Qian Deng village, Feng Hatat

Feng Hatat

Photography . 45 x 30 x 1 cm Photography . 17.7 x 11.8 x 0.4 inch

€600

Photography, Couche de soleil, Feng Hatat

Feng Hatat

Photography . 30 x 45 x 1 cm Photography . 11.8 x 17.7 x 0.4 inch

€600

Painting, Fiery Village, Arto Mkrtchyan

Arto Mkrtchyan

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

€320 €256

Painting, Evening cafe, Yehor Dulin

Yehor Dulin

Painting . 25 x 35 x 2 cm Painting . 9.8 x 13.8 x 0.8 inch

€548

Photography, Averse, Tanguy Mendrisse

Tanguy Mendrisse

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

€160

Fine Art Drawings, Travel, Maksym Kisilov

Maksym Kisilov

Fine Art Drawings . 29 x 41.9 x 2.5 cm Fine Art Drawings . 11.4 x 16.5 x 1 inch

€913

Painting, Times, Lluís Puiggrós

Lluís Puiggrós

Painting . 50 x 50 x 5 cm Painting . 19.7 x 19.7 x 2 inch

€550

Photography, #1, Julien Espiaut

#1

Julien Espiaut

Photography . 29.7 x 21 x 0.1 cm Photography . 11.7 x 8.3 x 0 inch

€190

Painting, Sun, Oleksandr Khrapachov

Sun

Oleksandr Khrapachov

Painting . 30 x 45 x 2 cm Painting . 11.8 x 17.7 x 0.8 inch

€456

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