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, Tendresse, Sandrine Hirson

Sandrine Hirson

Painting . 41 x 33 x 2 cm Painting . 16.1 x 13 x 0.8 inch

€400

Painting, Abstract #49, Pinar Akbaba

Pinar Akbaba

Painting . 40.6 x 40.6 x 2.5 cm Painting . 16 x 16 x 1 inch

€359

Painting, Run run run, Gabrielle Rul

Gabrielle Rul

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

€400

Painting, A Great Pair, Michael Gorban

Michael Gorban

Painting . 40 x 50 x 2.5 cm Painting . 15.7 x 19.7 x 1 inch

€1,890

Painting, Undaunted, Newel Hunter

Newel Hunter

Painting . 50.8 x 40.6 x 0.8 cm Painting . 20 x 16 x 0.3 inch

€1,660

Print, Death03265, Death NYC

Death NYC

Print . 45 x 32 x 0.1 cm Print . 17.7 x 12.6 x 0 inch

€199

Painting, Untitled, Joaquim Falcó

Joaquim Falcó

Painting . 27 x 35 cm Painting . 10.6 x 13.8 inch

€1,200

Photography, Les passantes, Catherine Fabre

Catherine Fabre

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

€450

Painting, Massaï, Marcos Zrihen

Marcos Zrihen

Painting . 10 x 30 x 2 cm Painting . 3.9 x 11.8 x 0.8 inch

€90

Fine Art Drawings, Tuesday, Dean Tavoularis

Dean Tavoularis

Fine Art Drawings . 31 x 22 x 1 cm Fine Art Drawings . 12.2 x 8.7 x 0.4 inch

€900

Painting, Entropy Zone 35., Petr Strnad

Petr Strnad

Painting . 42.2 x 29.3 x 0.1 cm Painting . 16.6 x 11.5 x 0 inch

€330

Sculpture, La ruche, Philippe Rude

Philippe Rude

Sculpture . 33 x 23 x 5 cm Sculpture . 13 x 9.1 x 2 inch

€1,880

Painting, Edison's project, Pol Ledent

Pol Ledent

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

€350

Painting, Chat sur affiche, C215

C215

Painting . 50 x 25 x 1 cm Painting . 19.7 x 9.8 x 0.4 inch

€3,200

Sculpture, 2M20, Fanfan

Fanfan

Sculpture . 45 x 10 x 10 cm Sculpture . 17.7 x 3.9 x 3.9 inch

€3,000

Painting, Head, Menashe Kadishman

Menashe Kadishman

Painting . 40 x 40 x 1.5 cm Painting . 15.7 x 15.7 x 0.6 inch

€1,890

Painting, L'Amore, Alexander Daniloff

Alexander Daniloff

Painting . 40 x 28 x 0.1 cm Painting . 15.7 x 11 x 0 inch

€280

Painting, Composition 307, Xiu

Xiu

Painting . 50 x 20 x 1 cm Painting . 19.7 x 7.9 x 0.4 inch

€600

Painting, Untitled, Doïna Vieru

Doïna Vieru

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

€800

Painting, Eletor, JaveL Art

JaveL Art

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

€300

Painting, The Right Path, Olga Tsyhypko

Olga Tsyhypko

Painting . 40 x 40 x 1.8 cm Painting . 15.7 x 15.7 x 0.7 inch

€450

Fine Art Drawings, Cabra, Sergio Abrain

Sergio Abrain

Fine Art Drawings . 30 x 22.5 x 0.2 cm Fine Art Drawings . 11.8 x 8.9 x 0.1 inch

€450

Painting, Brisores, Claude Carretta

Claude Carretta

Painting . 35 x 25 x 1 cm Painting . 13.8 x 9.8 x 0.4 inch

€250

Painting, Colleague, Nazar Ivanyuk

Nazar Ivanyuk

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

€880

Painting, Alien woman, Dr. Love

Dr. Love

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

€50

Painting, Taureau, Hervé Maury

Hervé Maury

Painting . 50 x 40 x 3 cm Painting . 19.7 x 15.7 x 1.2 inch

€750

Painting, Just human, Natalya Mougenot

Natalya Mougenot

Painting . 42 x 29.7 x 0.1 cm Painting . 16.5 x 11.7 x 0 inch

€400

Painting, Time within, Natalya Mougenot

Natalya Mougenot

Painting . 42 x 29.7 x 0.1 cm Painting . 16.5 x 11.7 x 0 inch

€400

Painting, A few dwellings, Pol Ledent

Pol Ledent

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

€550

Photography, La rose, Jean Valera

Jean Valera

Photography . 40 x 50 x 0.3 cm Photography . 15.7 x 19.7 x 0.1 inch

€650

Painting, Golden Corner, Narek Qochunc

Narek Qochunc

Painting . 24 x 31 x 0.2 cm Painting . 9.4 x 12.2 x 0.1 inch

€314

Fine Art Drawings, Messenger, Nino Devdariani

Nino Devdariani

Fine Art Drawings . 25 x 42 x 0.1 cm Fine Art Drawings . 9.8 x 16.5 x 0 inch

€3,000

Sculpture, King breitling black, Spaco

Spaco

Sculpture . 17 x 30 x 6 cm Sculpture . 6.7 x 11.8 x 2.4 inch

€260

Painting, Entropy Zone 31., Petr Strnad

Petr Strnad

Painting . 42.2 x 29.5 x 0.1 cm Painting . 16.6 x 11.6 x 0 inch

€360

Painting, Entropy Zone 29., Petr Strnad

Petr Strnad

Painting . 42.2 x 29.5 x 0.1 cm Painting . 16.6 x 11.6 x 0 inch

€330

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