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, Montmartre, Kamsar Ohanyan

Kamsar Ohanyan

Fine Art Drawings . 27 x 37 x 0.1 cm Fine Art Drawings . 10.6 x 14.6 x 0 inch

€200

Fine Art Drawings, Place de l'Etoile, Lucio Forte

Lucio Forte

Fine Art Drawings . 21 x 26 x 0.1 cm Fine Art Drawings . 8.3 x 10.2 x 0 inch

€85

Photography, Goal, Marick

Marick

Photography . 19 x 27 x 1 cm Photography . 7.5 x 10.6 x 0.4 inch

€350

Photography, Gdansk 15, Irène Jonas

Irène Jonas

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

€800

Photography, Gdansk 13, Irène Jonas

Irène Jonas

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

€800

Photography, Gdansk 12, Irène Jonas

Irène Jonas

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

€800

Photography, Gdansk 11, Irène Jonas

Irène Jonas

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

€800

Photography, Gdansk 10, Irène Jonas

Irène Jonas

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

€800

Photography, Gdansk 09, Irène Jonas

Irène Jonas

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

€800

Photography, Gdansk 06, Irène Jonas

Irène Jonas

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

€800

Photography, Gdansk 05, Irène Jonas

Irène Jonas

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

€800

Photography, Gdansk 04, Irène Jonas

Irène Jonas

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

€800

Photography, Gdansk 02, Irène Jonas

Irène Jonas

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

€800

Painting, City of Love, Sona Adalyan

Sona Adalyan

Painting . 25 x 30 x 0.2 cm Painting . 9.8 x 11.8 x 0.1 inch

€290

Painting, Barcelona, Rocío Soriano

Rocío Soriano

Painting . 31 x 37 x 1 cm Painting . 12.2 x 14.6 x 0.4 inch

€200

Painting, Cassis, Mario Domenicale

Mario Domenicale

Painting . 26 x 36 x 0.2 cm Painting . 10.2 x 14.2 x 0.1 inch

€180

Painting, Camogli, Mario Domenicale

Mario Domenicale

Painting . 25 x 35 x 0.2 cm Painting . 9.8 x 13.8 x 0.1 inch

€180

Fine Art Drawings, UP/PF/009, Jean-Jacques André

Jean-Jacques André

Fine Art Drawings . 21.5 x 41.5 x 0.3 cm Fine Art Drawings . 8.5 x 16.3 x 0.1 inch

€190

Fine Art Drawings, UP/PF/010, Jean-Jacques André

Jean-Jacques André

Fine Art Drawings . 21.5 x 41.5 x 0.3 cm Fine Art Drawings . 8.5 x 16.3 x 0.1 inch

€190

Fine Art Drawings, UP/PF/007, Jean-Jacques André

Jean-Jacques André

Fine Art Drawings . 21.5 x 41.5 x 0.3 cm Fine Art Drawings . 8.5 x 16.3 x 0.1 inch

€190

Painting, Parisian cafe 3, Samiran Boruah

Samiran Boruah

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

€450 €360

Fine Art Drawings, Terrasse des paresseux, Topolino

Topolino

Fine Art Drawings . 30 x 42 x 0.5 cm Fine Art Drawings . 11.8 x 16.5 x 0.2 inch

€490

Painting, Broadway, Pappay

Pappay

Painting . 30 x 30 x 4 cm Painting . 11.8 x 11.8 x 1.6 inch

€320

Photography, Louvre I, Shengqi Tang

Shengqi Tang

Photography . 20 x 30 x 1 cm Photography . 7.9 x 11.8 x 0.4 inch

€650

Painting, Selo J2, Ivan Tzonev

Ivan Tzonev

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

€300

Fine Art Drawings, Old Paris, Kamsar Ohanyan

Kamsar Ohanyan

Fine Art Drawings . 40 x 50 x 3 cm Fine Art Drawings . 15.7 x 19.7 x 1.2 inch

€400

Fine Art Drawings, Inspiration Marrakech, Muriel Deumie

Muriel Deumie

Fine Art Drawings . 50 x 50 x 44 cm Fine Art Drawings . 19.7 x 19.7 x 17.3 inch

€700 €630

Fine Art Drawings, Sketch17. Kyiv, Tetiana Ocheredko

Tetiana Ocheredko

Fine Art Drawings . 35 x 50 x 0.1 cm Fine Art Drawings . 13.8 x 19.7 x 0 inch

€320

Painting, Peaceful, Katrina Avotina

Katrina Avotina

Painting . 24.9 x 30 x 2 cm Painting . 9.8 x 11.8 x 0.8 inch

€480

Painting, Venice CA, Daniel Clarke

Daniel Clarke

Painting . 45.7 x 30.5 x 0.3 cm Painting . 18 x 12 x 0.1 inch

€293

Photography, Baika, Fabrizio Alzati

Fabrizio Alzati

Photography . 20 x 27 cm Photography . 7.9 x 10.6 inch

€350

Painting, Hilltop View, Noe Borst

Noe Borst

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

€600

Painting, City, Tsisia Kiladze

Tsisia Kiladze

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

€700

Photography, Olympic Village, Jonathan Dy

Jonathan Dy

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

€250

Painting, Intersection, Hubert Ollivier

Hubert Ollivier

Painting . 50 x 50 x 1.8 cm Painting . 19.7 x 19.7 x 0.7 inch

€300

Photography, Beau gosse, Marick

Marick

Photography . 50 x 40 x 1 cm Photography . 19.7 x 15.7 x 0.4 inch

€400

Photography, Afternoon Walk, Nilgun Sezgin

Nilgun Sezgin

Photography . 45 x 30 x 0.01 cm Photography . 17.7 x 11.8 x 0 inch

€240

Photography, Down Here, Jonathan Dy

Jonathan Dy

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

€250

Photography, Sortie de tôle, Marick

Marick

Photography . 40 x 50 x 1 cm Photography . 15.7 x 19.7 x 0.4 inch

€400

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