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, Cubacasus, Noe Borst

Noe Borst

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

$701

Fine Art Drawings, Bremer Ansicht, Yulia Pugacheva

Yulia Pugacheva

Fine Art Drawings . 29 x 21 x 0.01 cm Fine Art Drawings . 11.4 x 8.3 x 0 inch

$327

Print, Batman city, Carlos Olmo

Carlos Olmo

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

$70

Painting, Big city, Marusia Abashydze

Marusia Abashydze

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

$432

Photography, Soul Train, Gabriel Baxas

Gabriel Baxas

Photography . 41 x 30 x 0.1 cm Photography . 16.1 x 11.8 x 0 inch

$526

Painting, Weekend dad, Schagen Vita

Schagen Vita

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

$911

Painting, Harbor Idyll, Schagen Vita

Schagen Vita

Painting . 29.5 x 21 x 0.3 cm Painting . 11.6 x 8.3 x 0.1 inch

$263

Fine Art Drawings, Explosion, Haibat Balaa Bawab

Haibat Balaa Bawab

Fine Art Drawings . 25 x 40 x 2 cm Fine Art Drawings . 9.8 x 15.7 x 0.8 inch

$5,257

Photography, Sans titre, Julien Drogoul

Julien Drogoul

Photography . 45 x 30 x 0.3 cm Photography . 17.7 x 11.8 x 0.1 inch

$292

Sculpture, Head of Woman, Emilio Greco

Emilio Greco

Sculpture . 48 x 27 x 17 cm Sculpture . 18.9 x 10.6 x 6.7 inch

$8,762

Sculpture, Freyja, Simon Bacon

Simon Bacon

Sculpture . 42 x 25 x 25 cm Sculpture . 16.5 x 9.8 x 9.8 inch

$5,643

Sculpture, Curiosité, Fanjol

Fanjol

Sculpture . 35 x 20 x 15 cm Sculpture . 13.8 x 7.9 x 5.9 inch

$6,075

Painting, Parties, Gabrielle Rul

Gabrielle Rul

Painting . 31 x 23 x 0.1 cm Painting . 12.2 x 9.1 x 0 inch

$467

Sculpture, Melissa, Christine Jamet

Christine Jamet

Sculpture . 23 x 35 x 25 cm Sculpture . 9.1 x 13.8 x 9.8 inch

$5,842

Sculpture, Nous deux, Fanjol

Fanjol

Sculpture . 29 x 16 x 10 cm Sculpture . 11.4 x 6.3 x 3.9 inch

$7,477

Sculpture, Stillness, Linde Ergo

Linde Ergo

Sculpture . 40 x 35 x 30 cm Sculpture . 15.7 x 13.8 x 11.8 inch

$8,470

Photography, Tram Stop, Katerina Belkina

Katerina Belkina

Photography . 30 x 40 x 0.2 cm Photography . 11.8 x 15.7 x 0.1 inch

$2,140

Painting, Up, Natalia Naumova

Up

Natalia Naumova

Painting . 50 x 40 x 1.7 cm Painting . 19.7 x 15.7 x 0.7 inch

$910

Sculpture, Volupté, Christine Jamet

Christine Jamet

Sculpture . 33 x 49 x 32 cm Sculpture . 13 x 19.3 x 12.6 inch

$8,762

Sculpture, Tornem-hi, Teresa Riba

Teresa Riba

Sculpture . 48 x 14 x 12 cm Sculpture . 18.9 x 5.5 x 4.7 inch

$4,206

Sculpture, Attente, Christine Jamet

Christine Jamet

Sculpture . 34 x 21 x 20 cm Sculpture . 13.4 x 8.3 x 7.9 inch

$4,673

Photography, Abandon, Maximilien Diaz

Maximilien Diaz

Photography . 30 x 40 x 1 cm Photography . 11.8 x 15.7 x 0.4 inch

$935

Sculpture, Tornem-hi IV, Teresa Riba

Teresa Riba

Sculpture . 48 x 17 x 10 cm Sculpture . 18.9 x 6.7 x 3.9 inch

$4,965

Photography, Sans 4, Lucien Hervé

Lucien Hervé

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

$3,505

Photography, Euphoria, Juliette Royer

Juliette Royer

Photography . 31.9 x 19.1 x 0.5 cm Photography . 12.6 x 7.5 x 0.2 inch

$129

Photography, Choice, Nilgun Sezgin

Nilgun Sezgin

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

$280