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, Sans titre 3, Valérie Hadida

Valérie Hadida

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

€1,300

Fine Art Drawings, Intérieur, Paul Aïzpiri

Paul Aïzpiri

Fine Art Drawings . 35.5 x 34.5 cm Fine Art Drawings . 14 x 13.6 inch

€800

Fine Art Drawings, 5H, Philippe Huart

5H

Philippe Huart

Fine Art Drawings . 40 x 30 x 1 cm Fine Art Drawings . 15.7 x 11.8 x 0.4 inch

€3,000

Fine Art Drawings, Tête rose, Valérie Hadida

Valérie Hadida

Fine Art Drawings . 50 x 36 x 0.5 cm Fine Art Drawings . 19.7 x 14.2 x 0.2 inch

€1,600

Fine Art Drawings, Frédérica, Luigi Corbellini

Luigi Corbellini

Fine Art Drawings . 38 x 29 x 0.3 cm Fine Art Drawings . 15 x 11.4 x 0.1 inch

€903

Fine Art Drawings, Green (men), Manuel Santelices

Manuel Santelices

Fine Art Drawings . 27.9 x 35.6 x 0.3 cm Fine Art Drawings . 11 x 14 x 0.1 inch

€502

Fine Art Drawings, The Foggy Morning, Elena Mashkova

Elena Mashkova

Fine Art Drawings . 29.5 x 41.5 x 0.1 cm Fine Art Drawings . 11.6 x 16.3 x 0 inch

€730

Fine Art Drawings, Pin-Up, Philippe Berthet

Philippe Berthet

Fine Art Drawings . 29.5 x 21.5 cm Fine Art Drawings . 11.6 x 8.5 inch

€550

Painting, La demoiselle III, Kaige Yang

Kaige Yang

Painting . 50 x 30 x 1 cm Painting . 19.7 x 11.8 x 0.4 inch

€1,600

Fine Art Drawings, Daydream, Nino Eliashvili

Nino Eliashvili

Fine Art Drawings . 41.5 x 29.5 x 0.1 cm Fine Art Drawings . 16.3 x 11.6 x 0 inch

€800

Print, Purpose, Vhils

Vhils

Print . 42 x 29.7 cm Print . 16.5 x 11.7 inch

€1,200

Painting, Sitges, Ignasi Mundo

Ignasi Mundo

Painting . 45 x 33 x 0.3 cm Painting . 17.7 x 13 x 0.1 inch

€600

Painting, Héron, Xiu

Xiu

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

€500

Painting, Flora, Harumi Yukawa

Harumi Yukawa

Painting . 33.8 x 24 x 1 cm Painting . 13.3 x 9.4 x 0.4 inch

€1,790

Fine Art Drawings, Procès, John Reitz

John Reitz

Fine Art Drawings . 36.5 x 29 x 0.2 cm Fine Art Drawings . 14.4 x 11.4 x 0.1 inch

€925

Fine Art Drawings, Family 2, Ivan Afronskiy

Ivan Afronskiy

Fine Art Drawings . 20 x 28 x 1 cm Fine Art Drawings . 7.9 x 11 x 0.4 inch

€1,290

Painting, A la campagne, Ettore Verdesi

Ettore Verdesi

Painting . 29 x 39 x 0.3 cm Painting . 11.4 x 15.4 x 0.1 inch

€993

Painting, Under cover, Mathieu 1976

Mathieu 1976

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

€2,000

Painting, Kaki 2, Xiu

Xiu

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

€600

Fine Art Drawings, Untitled, Mohamed Lekleti

Mohamed Lekleti

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

€2,000

Fine Art Drawings, L'Otarie, Jean-Louis Toutain

Jean-Louis Toutain

Fine Art Drawings . 28 x 22 x 0.1 cm Fine Art Drawings . 11 x 8.7 x 0 inch

€1,000

Painting, Hell Knights, Lucio Forte

Lucio Forte

Painting . 24 x 30 x 0.1 cm Painting . 9.4 x 11.8 x 0 inch

€190

Fine Art Drawings, Ma petite, Miquel Wert

Miquel Wert

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

€1,150

Fine Art Drawings, Sightseeing, Michael Alan

Michael Alan

Fine Art Drawings . 30.5 x 22.9 x 0.1 cm Fine Art Drawings . 12 x 9 x 0.04 inch

€2,373

Fine Art Drawings, Home, Avishek Sen

Avishek Sen

Fine Art Drawings . 27.9 x 17.8 x 1 cm Fine Art Drawings . 11 x 7 x 0.4 inch

€950

Painting, Muslim, Lucie Navier

Lucie Navier

Painting . 32 x 24 x 0.2 cm Painting . 12.6 x 9.4 x 0.1 inch

€350

Fine Art Drawings, Swan_01, Helal Uddin

Helal Uddin

Fine Art Drawings . 30.5 x 40.6 x 0.3 cm Fine Art Drawings . 12 x 16 x 0.1 inch

€1,269

Fine Art Drawings, Sies Marjan, Manuel Santelices

Manuel Santelices

Fine Art Drawings . 35.6 x 27.9 x 0.3 cm Fine Art Drawings . 14 x 11 x 0.1 inch

€730