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, Voilier Dior, Arcanis

Arcanis

Sculpture . 40 x 40 x 15 cm Sculpture . 15.7 x 15.7 x 5.9 inch

€1,100

Print, Tunel, Joan Brossa

Joan Brossa

Print . 50 x 38 cm Print . 19.7 x 15 inch

€550

Sculpture, Porsche 911, PyB

PyB

Sculpture . 12 x 32 x 6 cm Sculpture . 4.7 x 12.6 x 2.4 inch

€250

Photography, Sans 1, Lucien Hervé

Lucien Hervé

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

€3,000

Painting, Blue Car, Marian Williams

Marian Williams

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

€250

Sculpture, Loco, AC 5

AC 5

Sculpture . 15.5 x 26 x 9 cm Sculpture . 6.1 x 10.2 x 3.5 inch

€120

Fine Art Drawings, Car Flames, Spencer Harris

Spencer Harris

Fine Art Drawings . 30.5 x 22.9 x 2 cm Fine Art Drawings . 12 x 9 x 0.8 inch

€1,760

Sculpture, Fugida, Ferran Cartes Yerro

Ferran Cartes Yerro

Sculpture . 35 x 35 x 6 cm Sculpture . 13.8 x 13.8 x 2.4 inch

€550

Painting, Tug, Nigel Bailey

Tug

Nigel Bailey

Painting . 25.4 x 25.4 x 0.5 cm Painting . 10 x 10 x 0.2 inch

€342

Sculpture, Voilier Hermes pop, Arcanis

Arcanis

Sculpture . 40 x 40 x 15 cm Sculpture . 15.7 x 15.7 x 5.9 inch

€1,100

Sculpture, Fusée Gold, Spaco

Spaco

Sculpture . 28 x 12 x 12 cm Sculpture . 11 x 4.7 x 4.7 inch

€250

Sculpture, Poisson pilot, Pascal Billard

Pascal Billard

Sculpture . 18 x 41 x 12 cm Sculpture . 7.1 x 16.1 x 4.7 inch

€890

Painting, A2213, Thierry Benzaid

Thierry Benzaid

Painting . 46 x 38 x 1 cm Painting . 18.1 x 15 x 0.4 inch

€450

Painting, Après Ski, Riccardo Mayr

Riccardo Mayr

Painting . 40 x 40 x 0.1 cm Painting . 15.7 x 15.7 x 0 inch

€800

Painting, 911 Porsche Colors, Spaco

Spaco

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

€190

Painting, Boat, Sirio Pellegrini

Sirio Pellegrini

Painting . 39 x 29 x 0.5 cm Painting . 15.4 x 11.4 x 0.2 inch

€2,200

Painting, Boats II, Agapi

Agapi

Painting . 50 x 35 x 0.1 cm Painting . 19.7 x 13.8 x 0 inch

€350

Painting, Quiet Harbor, Vahe Bagumyan

Vahe Bagumyan

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

€226 €192

Painting, RDG172312, Yigit Yazici

Yigit Yazici

Painting . 28 x 36 x 1.5 cm Painting . 11 x 14.2 x 0.6 inch

€1,805

Fine Art Drawings, Forest Road, Dean Tavoularis

Dean Tavoularis

Fine Art Drawings . 42 x 28 x 1 cm Fine Art Drawings . 16.5 x 11 x 0.4 inch

€1,200

Painting, Porsche 911 Colors, Spaco

Spaco

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

€190

Painting, RTU176712, Yigit Yazici

Yigit Yazici

Painting . 35 x 45 cm Painting . 13.8 x 17.7 inch

€2,482

Painting, Porsche 911, PyB

PyB

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

€200

Painting, Ferrari red Colors, Spaco

Spaco

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

€190

Painting, Sola 10, Sola Puig

Sola Puig

Painting . 27 x 41 x 2 cm Painting . 10.6 x 16.1 x 0.8 inch

€1,300

Sculpture, Porsche 964 Turbo, Ian Philip

Ian Philip

Sculpture . 12 x 50 x 20 cm Sculpture . 4.7 x 19.7 x 7.9 inch

€4,200