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…

Read more
Painting, Bianca, Alan Lemin

Alan Lemin

Painting . 50 x 40 x 0.2 cm Painting . 19.7 x 15.7 x 0.1 inch

€2,000

Painting, Les falaise, Marko Stupar

Marko Stupar

Painting . 24 x 35 x 2 cm Painting . 9.4 x 13.8 x 0.8 inch

€2,800

Painting, Femme III, Hong Shen

Hong Shen

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

€500

Painting, Surrender, Robert Inestroza

Robert Inestroza

Painting . 27 x 41 x 2 cm Painting . 10.6 x 16.1 x 0.8 inch

€580

Painting, Portrait, Guy Ghazanchyan

Guy Ghazanchyan

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

€800

Painting, Margay, Eleonora Taranova

Eleonora Taranova

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

€850

Painting, Pink Poppy II, Allan O'Marra

Allan O'Marra

Painting . 50.8 x 50.8 x 5.1 cm Painting . 20 x 20 x 2 inch

€894

Painting, July, Xenia Gray

Xenia Gray

Painting . 38.1 x 30.5 x 2.5 cm Painting . 15 x 12 x 1 inch

€1,833

Painting, Untitled, Sarkis Hamalbashian

Sarkis Hamalbashian

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

€1,400 €1,260

Painting, Sans Titre, Daniel Cayo

Daniel Cayo

Painting . 33 x 24 x 3 cm Painting . 13 x 9.4 x 1.2 inch

€850

Painting, Rose - 952, Aykaz Arzumanyan

Aykaz Arzumanyan

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

€860

Painting, Et toi, Clothilde Lasserre

Clothilde Lasserre

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

€1,600

Painting, Origami, Galya Popova

Galya Popova

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

€1,440

Painting, Family 2, Keti Shapatava

Keti Shapatava

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

€1,400

Painting, Exposed, Papayon

Papayon

Painting . 43.2 x 43.2 x 2.5 cm Painting . 17 x 17 x 1 inch

€1,500

Painting, Summernights, Karl Gietl

Karl Gietl

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

€1,400

Painting, Head, Gianni Dova

Gianni Dova

Painting . 37.5 x 46.5 x 0.1 cm Painting . 14.8 x 18.3 x 0 inch

€10,800

Painting, Lotus, Cécile Girard

Cécile Girard

Painting . 43 x 43 x 1 cm Painting . 16.9 x 16.9 x 0.4 inch

€800

Sculpture, Untitled, Vahan Roumelian

Vahan Roumelian

Sculpture . 31 x 38 x 20 cm Sculpture . 12.2 x 15 x 7.9 inch

€3,400

Painting, Hunter, Robert Walker

Robert Walker

Painting . 41 x 30 x 2 cm Painting . 16.1 x 11.8 x 0.8 inch

€575

Painting, Pater Noster, Miguel Amate

Miguel Amate

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

€1,500

Painting, That's Him, Ya-Wei Li

Ya-Wei Li

Painting . 45 x 35 x 4 cm Painting . 17.7 x 13.8 x 1.6 inch

€2,000

Painting, Bords de mer, Jacques Moreau

Jacques Moreau

Painting . 19 x 27 x 2 cm Painting . 7.5 x 10.6 x 0.8 inch

€360

Painting, Portrait, Guy Ghazanchyan

Guy Ghazanchyan

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

€800

Painting, Cow, Itay Magen

Cow

Itay Magen

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

€907

Painting, Muddy Fox, Michele Mikesell

Michele Mikesell

Painting . 50 x 50 x 4.5 cm Painting . 19.7 x 19.7 x 1.8 inch

€3,800

Painting, Fanny, Anya Spielman

Anya Spielman

Painting . 33 x 28 cm Painting . 13 x 11 inch

€2,418

Painting, Dr Josef, Jean-Luc Almond

Jean-Luc Almond

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

€2,842

Painting, In vitro, Thierry Bronchart

Thierry Bronchart

Painting . 46 x 33 x 2 cm Painting . 18.1 x 13 x 0.8 inch

€1,200

Painting, Le Vase bleu, Pascal Perrin

Pascal Perrin

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

€2,500

Painting, Beachhouse, Peter de Boer

Peter de Boer

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

€1,380

21/100