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, Winter Lavra, Ivan Pylypenko

Ivan Pylypenko

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

€452

Painting, Park, Vyacheslav B.

Vyacheslav B.

Painting . 16 x 27 x 2 cm Painting . 6.3 x 10.6 x 0.8 inch

€205

Painting, Winter field, Sergiy A.

Sergiy A.

Painting . 27 x 37 x 2 cm Painting . 10.6 x 14.6 x 0.8 inch

€255

Painting, Morning, Sergiy A.

Sergiy A.

Painting . 26 x 38 x 2 cm Painting . 10.2 x 15 x 0.8 inch

€255

Fine Art Drawings, Wintered, Simon Kozhin

Simon Kozhin

Fine Art Drawings . 20 x 30 x 0.1 cm Fine Art Drawings . 7.9 x 11.8 x 0 inch

€2,540

Painting, Winter street, Vyacheslav B.

Vyacheslav B.

Painting . 27 x 16 x 2 cm Painting . 10.6 x 6.3 x 0.8 inch

€205

Painting, Winter park, Vyacheslav B.

Vyacheslav B.

Painting . 16 x 27 x 2 cm Painting . 6.3 x 10.6 x 0.8 inch

€205

Painting, Winter village, Sergiy A.

Sergiy A.

Painting . 26 x 38 x 2 cm Painting . 10.2 x 15 x 0.8 inch

€259

Painting, Winter road, Sergiy A.

Sergiy A.

Painting . 39 x 25 x 2 cm Painting . 15.4 x 9.8 x 0.8 inch

€259

Painting, Winter morning, Olga Mozul

Olga Mozul

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

€497

Painting, February, Oleg Litvinov

Oleg Litvinov

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

€600

Painting, The Way Home, Tamar Nazaryan

Tamar Nazaryan

Painting . 30 x 24 x 2 cm Painting . 11.8 x 9.4 x 0.8 inch

€109

Photography, Vermont Winter, Slim Aarons

Slim Aarons

Photography . 50.8 x 50.8 cm Photography . 20 x 20 inch

€3,420

Photography, Lech Ice Bar, Slim Aarons

Slim Aarons

Photography . 50.8 x 50.8 cm Photography . 20 x 20 inch

€3,420

Photography, Lech ice bar, Slim Aarons

Slim Aarons

Photography . 50.8 x 50.8 cm Photography . 20 x 20 inch

€3,420

Photography, Skiing In Stowe, Slim Aarons

Slim Aarons

Photography . 50.8 x 50.8 cm Photography . 20 x 20 inch

€3,420

Painting, Rough sea, Nigel Bailey

Nigel Bailey

Painting . 35.5 x 45.8 x 0.5 cm Painting . 14 x 18 x 0.2 inch

€456

Fine Art Drawings, Winter day, Simon Kozhin

Simon Kozhin

Fine Art Drawings . 21 x 30 x 0.1 cm Fine Art Drawings . 8.3 x 11.8 x 0 inch

€2,800

Painting, Welcome!, Elena Lukina

Elena Lukina

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

€650

Painting, Come Winter, Simon Ledson

Simon Ledson

Painting . 30 x 30 x 3 cm Painting . 11.8 x 11.8 x 1.2 inch

€723

Sculpture, Winter Harmony, Lili P

Lili P

Sculpture . 36 x 36 x 14 cm Sculpture . 14.2 x 14.2 x 5.5 inch

€5,425

Painting, Winter coast, Elena Lukina

Elena Lukina

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

€740

Painting, Winter, Zakhar Shevchuk

Zakhar Shevchuk

Painting . 36 x 37 x 0.5 cm Painting . 14.2 x 14.6 x 0.2 inch

€700

Painting, Snow Waltz, Elena Lukina

Elena Lukina

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

€500

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