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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Print, DeathM4791, Death NYC

Death NYC

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

€199

Painting, Rêve Bleu, Pascal Dabere

Pascal Dabere

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

€900

Painting, Pygargue, Mumuzepaint

Mumuzepaint

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

€560

Painting, Picaflor 101, Keng Wai Lee

Keng Wai Lee

Painting . 30 x 30 x 5 cm Painting . 11.8 x 11.8 x 2 inch

€544

Sculpture, Chat - Elégance, Pali

Pali

Sculpture . 30 x 13 x 17 cm Sculpture . 11.8 x 5.1 x 6.7 inch

€1,500

Painting, Harold, Nef

Nef

Painting . 30 x 24 x 4 cm Painting . 11.8 x 9.4 x 1.6 inch

€500

Fine Art Drawings, Frenchie Etude 2, Julia Shilo

Julia Shilo

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

€1,835

Sculpture, Teddy Gucci, Naor

Naor

Sculpture . 35 x 26 x 25 cm Sculpture . 13.8 x 10.2 x 9.8 inch

€680

Sculpture, Cha'zen, Lolek

Lolek

Sculpture . 47 x 37 x 39 cm Sculpture . 18.5 x 14.6 x 15.4 inch

€9,750

Sculpture, La nasse, Pascal Billard

Pascal Billard

Sculpture . 40 x 23 x 10 cm Sculpture . 15.7 x 9.1 x 3.9 inch

€1,280

Painting, Leopard Noir, Mariah Birsak

Mariah Birsak

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

€450

Painting, At home, Albena Vatcheva

Albena Vatcheva

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

€1,150 €1,093

Painting, Swallow, Elizabeth Becker

Elizabeth Becker

Painting . 22.9 x 30.5 cm Painting . 9 x 12 inch

€229

Sculpture, Savage Wolf, Vincent Bardou

Vincent Bardou

Sculpture . 23 x 34 x 11 cm Sculpture . 9.1 x 13.4 x 4.3 inch

€619

Sculpture, Teddy, Naor

Naor

Sculpture . 35 x 26 x 25 cm Sculpture . 13.8 x 10.2 x 9.8 inch

€680

Painting, Elena, Albena Vatcheva

Albena Vatcheva

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

€1,150

Print, Man and Bird, Annora Spence

Annora Spence

Print . 43.2 x 44.5 x 5.1 cm Print . 17 x 17.5 x 2 inch

€1,147

Painting, Hole's Origin, Canned

Canned

Painting . 29 x 42 x 0.2 cm Painting . 11.4 x 16.5 x 0.1 inch

€450

Painting, Les Destriers, Pascal Dabere

Pascal Dabere

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

€900

Fine Art Drawings, Barb - 07, Barberousse

Barberousse

Fine Art Drawings . 25 x 35 x 0.3 cm Fine Art Drawings . 9.8 x 13.8 x 0.1 inch

€350

Painting, Love 1 -, Hervé Maury

Hervé Maury

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

€800

Sculpture, Equilibrium 1, David Natidze

David Natidze

Sculpture . 25 x 45 x 15 cm Sculpture . 9.8 x 17.7 x 5.9 inch

€5,400

Painting, Eva, Albena Vatcheva

Eva

Albena Vatcheva

Painting . 46 x 38 x 2 cm Painting . 18.1 x 15 x 0.8 inch

€995

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, 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, Leopard bleu, Mosko

Mosko

Painting . 40 x 36 x 3 cm Painting . 15.7 x 14.2 x 1.2 inch

€900

Sculpture, P'tit Cha Cha Chat, Lolek

Lolek

Sculpture . 30.5 x 29.5 x 11 cm Sculpture . 12 x 11.6 x 4.3 inch

€3,200

Painting, N°10, Masayoshi Hanawa

Masayoshi Hanawa

Painting . 30 x 21 cm Painting . 11.8 x 8.3 inch

€750

Print, Muerte, Gustavo Rimada

Gustavo Rimada

Print . 35.6 x 35.6 cm Print . 14 x 14 inch

€370

Painting, L'oiseau à poids, Loha

Loha

Painting . 29 x 21 x 1 cm Painting . 11.4 x 8.3 x 0.4 inch

€80

Photography, Dog Wash, Ken Heyman

Ken Heyman

Photography . 27.9 x 35.6 x 1.3 cm Photography . 11 x 14 x 0.5 inch

€4,405

Sculpture, Cómplice, Ron Zohar

Ron Zohar

Sculpture . 41 x 24 x 25 cm Sculpture . 16.1 x 9.4 x 9.8 inch

€7,400

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