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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Sculpture, La Famille, Miguel Guía

Miguel Guía

Sculpture . 28 x 24 x 24 cm Sculpture . 11 x 9.4 x 9.4 inch

€1,120

Sculpture, Sans titre, Jean-Luc Parant

Jean-Luc Parant

Sculpture . 40 x 17 x 17 cm Sculpture . 15.7 x 6.7 x 6.7 inch

€3,000

Painting, Salou, Josep Sala

Josep Sala

Painting . 24 x 33 x 1 cm Painting . 9.4 x 13 x 0.4 inch

€1,500

Fine Art Drawings, Sans titre, Camille Adra

Camille Adra

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

€200

Painting, Paris, Michel Rodde

Michel Rodde

Painting . 27 x 37 x 1 cm Painting . 10.6 x 14.6 x 0.4 inch

€1,400

Painting, South spirit, Pappay

Pappay

Painting . 50 x 50 x 4 cm Painting . 19.7 x 19.7 x 1.6 inch

€880

Print, Istanbul I, Sukran Ulucan

Sukran Ulucan

Print . 49 x 30 x 0.3 cm Print . 19.3 x 11.8 x 0.1 inch

€650

Painting, Amsterdam, Ivan Pylypenko

Ivan Pylypenko

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

€330

Painting, In the city, Anna Artemieva

Anna Artemieva

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

€458

Painting, Géometrie Urbaine, ZiB

ZiB

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

€820

Photography, Ascension, Bilal Aouffen

Bilal Aouffen

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

€1,400 €1,260

Fine Art Drawings, Sans titre, Rajendra Dhawan

Rajendra Dhawan

Fine Art Drawings . 39 x 28.5 cm Fine Art Drawings . 15.4 x 11.2 inch

€3,800

Painting, Waterloo Road, David Walker

David Walker

Painting . 30 x 30 x 1 cm Painting . 11.8 x 11.8 x 0.4 inch

€1,028

Painting, Her path, Carlos Diaz

Carlos Diaz

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

€1,950

Painting, Mother Armenia, Aram Movsisyan

Aram Movsisyan

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

€229 €195

Painting, All that jazz, Gabrielle Rul

Gabrielle Rul

Painting . 46 x 36 x 0.1 cm Painting . 18.1 x 14.2 x 0 inch

€600

Painting, View of Staithe, Mike Hall

Mike Hall

Painting . 27 x 22 x 1 cm Painting . 10.6 x 8.7 x 0.4 inch

€840

Print, Piste d'envol, Peter Klasen

Peter Klasen

Print . 40.5 x 32 x 0.1 cm Print . 15.9 x 12.6 x 0 inch

€300

Print, City, Mr.Tris

Mr.Tris

Print . 24 x 36 x 0.2 cm Print . 9.4 x 14.2 x 0.1 inch

€120

Photography, Surprise Mthfcker, Rodrigo

Rodrigo

Photography . 44.5 x 29.6 x 0.1 cm Photography . 17.5 x 11.7 x 0 inch

€1,599

Painting, Bici i arbre, Carlos Diaz

Carlos Diaz

Painting . 40 x 40 x 4 cm Painting . 15.7 x 15.7 x 1.6 inch

€1,800

Painting, Bikini vermell, Alicia Grau

Alicia Grau

Painting . 27 x 46 x 3 cm Painting . 10.6 x 18.1 x 1.2 inch

€1,300

Photography, Lyric theatre, Berenice Abbott

Berenice Abbott

Photography . 36.8 x 48.9 x 0.3 cm Photography . 14.5 x 19.25 x 0.1 inch

€15,766

Painting, Dawes Point, Nigel Bailey

Nigel Bailey

Painting . 40.3 x 40.3 x 0.3 cm Painting . 15.9 x 15.9 x 0.1 inch

€900 €810