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, Harmony, Jean David

Harmony

Jean David

Painting - 50.8 x 40.6 x 5.1 cm Painting - 20 x 16 x 2 inch

€1,129

Photography, Juliette, Ifig

Juliette

Ifig

Photography - 42 x 42 cm Photography - 16.5 x 16.5 inch

€900

Painting, No name, Christophe Ruiz

No name

Christophe Ruiz

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

€450

Photography, Pool Blink, Teddy Marks

Pool Blink

Teddy Marks

Photography - 28 x 18.67 cm Photography - 11 x 7.4 inch

€500

Photography, Pool Blank, Teddy Marks

Pool Blank

Teddy Marks

Photography - 28 x 18.67 cm Photography - 11 x 7.4 inch

€500

Sculpture, Deep water 1, Pencho Dobrev

Deep water 1

Pencho Dobrev

Sculpture - 37 x 25 x 16 cm Sculpture - 14.6 x 9.8 x 6.3 inch

€4,400

Photography, Bodyscape, Franck Leclerc

Bodyscape

Franck Leclerc

Photography - 40 x 33 x 1 cm Photography - 15.7 x 13 x 0.4 inch

€690

Photography, Drops, Franck Leclerc

Drops

Franck Leclerc

Photography - 33 x 40 x 1 cm Photography - 13 x 15.7 x 0.4 inch

€690

Photography, Boxeur 2, Bruno Fournier

Boxeur 2

Bruno Fournier

Photography - 36 x 24 x 1 cm Photography - 14.2 x 9.4 x 0.4 inch

€1,000

Sculpture, Elévation, Sylvie Bourely

Elévation

Sylvie Bourely

Sculpture - 40 x 19 x 24 cm Sculpture - 15.7 x 7.5 x 9.4 inch

€12,000

Print, Erotissimo, Leonor Fini

Erotissimo

Leonor Fini

Print - 38 x 28 x 0.5 cm Print - 15 x 11 x 0.2 inch

€990

Fine Art Drawings, Funny Girl, Isabelle Hirtzig

Funny Girl

Isabelle Hirtzig

Fine Art Drawings - 30 x 30 x 0.1 cm Fine Art Drawings - 11.8 x 11.8 x 0 inch

€135

Painting, Complementari II, Mar Tina

Complementari II

Mar Tina

Painting - 30 x 42.5 x 3 cm Painting - 11.8 x 16.7 x 1.2 inch

€2,100

Painting, Passians, Rumen Sazdov

Passians

Rumen Sazdov

Painting - 40 x 30 x 1.5 cm Painting - 15.7 x 11.8 x 0.6 inch

€950

Photography, Climbing I, Paris, Uwe Ommer

Climbing I, Paris

Uwe Ommer

Photography - 37 x 30 x 0.3 cm Photography - 14.6 x 11.8 x 0.1 inch

€1,729

Photography, DisSimuLaTiO, Louis Blanc

DisSimuLaTiO

Louis Blanc

Photography - 30 x 30 x 1 cm Photography - 11.8 x 11.8 x 0.4 inch

€1,900

Sculpture, Icaro III, Amancio Gonzalez

Icaro III

Amancio Gonzalez

Sculpture - 45 x 34.6 x 48.5 cm Sculpture - 17.7 x 13.6 x 19.1 inch

€4,400

Sculpture, Argonauta, Amancio Gonzalez

Argonauta

Amancio Gonzalez

Sculpture - 46 x 48.7 x 25 cm Sculpture - 18.1 x 19.2 x 9.8 inch

€4,500

Photography, Origine, Charles Bayonne

Origine

Charles Bayonne

Photography - 50 x 50 x 5 cm Photography - 19.7 x 19.7 x 2 inch

€700

Photography, Old phone, Alain Daussin

Old phone

Alain Daussin

Photography - 50 x 40 cm Photography - 19.7 x 15.7 inch

€1,980

Painting, Embrace, Ambi

Embrace

Ambi

Painting - 46.5 x 40 x 3 cm Painting - 18.3 x 15.7 x 1.2 inch

€4,000

Painting, Violet, Isabelle Hirtzig

Violet

Isabelle Hirtzig

Painting - 30 x 30 x 0.1 cm Painting - 11.8 x 11.8 x 0 inch

€115

Painting, Barbara, Pol Ledent

Barbara

Pol Ledent

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

€350

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