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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Sculpture, Mutations, Andrius Erminas

Andrius Erminas

Sculpture . 25 x 40 x 18 cm Sculpture . 9.8 x 15.7 x 7.1 inch

€1,000

Sculpture, Buste, Mélanie Bourget

Mélanie Bourget

Sculpture . 38.5 x 24 x 18 cm Sculpture . 15.2 x 9.4 x 7.1 inch

€1,400

Painting, Lapin songeur, Zwy Milshtein

Zwy Milshtein

Painting . 50 x 32 x 0.1 cm Painting . 19.7 x 12.6 x 0 inch

€1,400

Sculpture, Crazy, Anne Millot

Anne Millot

Sculpture . 47 x 47 x 9 cm Sculpture . 18.5 x 18.5 x 3.5 inch

€1,000

Print, Red Fish, Erró

Erró

Print . 30 x 24 x 0.05 cm Print . 11.8 x 9.4 x 0 inch

€450

Fine Art Drawings, Respirer, Fanny Gosse

Fanny Gosse

Fine Art Drawings . 32 x 24 x 0.1 cm Fine Art Drawings . 12.6 x 9.4 x 0 inch

€350

Fine Art Drawings, Au Cabaret, Yves Brayer

Yves Brayer

Fine Art Drawings . 31.5 x 24 cm Fine Art Drawings . 12.4 x 9.4 inch

€350

Painting, Fête, Zwy Milshtein

Zwy Milshtein

Painting . 50 x 40 x 0.1 cm Painting . 19.7 x 15.7 x 0 inch

€1,600

Photography, Bolchoi V, Gérard Uféras

Gérard Uféras

Photography . 40 x 50 x 0.1 cm Photography . 15.7 x 19.7 x 0 inch

€1,500

Photography, Corazon y alma, James Sparshatt

James Sparshatt

Photography . 40 x 50 x 1 cm Photography . 15.7 x 19.7 x 0.4 inch

€1,024 €922

Painting, Clothes, Michael Grine

Michael Grine

Painting . 30.5 x 22.9 x 0.3 cm Painting . 12 x 9 x 0.1 inch

€361

Painting, Cosmic Runner, Peter Max

Peter Max

Painting . 27.9 x 21.6 x 0.3 cm Painting . 11 x 8.5 x 0.1 inch

€1,999

Sculpture, Adelpha, Juliette Clovis

Juliette Clovis

Sculpture . 34 x 34 x 27 cm Sculpture . 13.4 x 13.4 x 10.6 inch

€4,950

Photography, DeliRiUs, Louis Blanc

Louis Blanc

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

€1,400

Photography, Motion, Michaela Haider

Michaela Haider

Photography . 49.8 x 49.8 x 0.3 cm Photography . 19.6 x 19.6 x 0.1 inch

€903

Painting, Rivage, Jean-Pierre Lorand

Jean-Pierre Lorand

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

€1,700

Painting, Néma, Marcos Rodrigo

Marcos Rodrigo

Painting . 40 x 40 cm Painting . 15.7 x 15.7 inch

€490

Painting, Red bikini, Olena Kishkurno

Olena Kishkurno

Painting . 35 x 40 x 2 cm Painting . 13.8 x 15.7 x 0.8 inch

€400

Photography, Lac des cygnes, Peter Zupnik

Peter Zupnik

Photography . 30 x 40 x 1 cm Photography . 11.8 x 15.7 x 0.4 inch

€1,650

Sculpture, A tree, Liutauras Grieze

Liutauras Grieze

Sculpture . 20 x 28 x 28 cm Sculpture . 7.9 x 11 x 11 inch

€1,900

Photography, Untitled #4, Josef Nadj

Josef Nadj

Photography . 25 x 30 cm Photography . 9.8 x 11.8 inch

€1,100

Photography, Change, Michaela Haider

Michaela Haider

Photography . 49.8 x 49.8 x 0.3 cm Photography . 19.6 x 19.6 x 0.1 inch

€903

Photography, Pola Molitor, Gil Rigoulet

Gil Rigoulet

Photography . 50 x 50 x 0.02 cm Photography . 19.7 x 19.7 x 0 inch

€2,000

Painting, Dancer 2, Kosta Morr

Kosta Morr

Painting . 30 x 21 x 1 cm Painting . 11.8 x 8.3 x 0.4 inch

€180

Sculpture, Step, Jesus Curia

Jesus Curia

Sculpture . 22 x 47 x 90 cm Sculpture . 8.7 x 18.5 x 35.4 inch

€6,600

Fine Art Drawings, Bas Dior, René Gruau

René Gruau

Fine Art Drawings . 47 x 33.5 cm Fine Art Drawings . 18.5 x 13.2 inch

€2,500

Photography, Nail artist, J.Léo

J.Léo

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

€1,500