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, Assiette, Takashi Murakami

Takashi Murakami

Sculpture . 20 x 37 x 0.5 cm Sculpture . 7.9 x 14.6 x 0.2 inch

€900

Painting, Night landscape 3, Goddog

Goddog

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

€850

Sculpture, Amok, Bruno Cantais

Bruno Cantais

Sculpture . 36 x 33 x 26 cm Sculpture . 14.2 x 13 x 10.2 inch

€2,650 €2,120

Fine Art Drawings, Sans titre, Vladimir Velickovic

Vladimir Velickovic

Fine Art Drawings . 32.5 x 20.5 cm Fine Art Drawings . 12.8 x 8.1 inch

€1,150

Print, Sans-titre, Antoni Tapies

Antoni Tapies

Print . 25.2 x 35.2 x 0.1 cm Print . 9.9 x 13.9 x 0 inch

€850

Painting, Landscape 13, Layla Dagher

Layla Dagher

Painting . 26 x 26 cm Painting . 10.2 x 10.2 inch

€900

Sculpture, Siletto, Richard Orlinski

Richard Orlinski

Sculpture . 40.64 x 30.48 x 20.32 cm Sculpture . 16 x 12 x 8 inch

€8,000

Painting, Suspension, L'Atlas

L'Atlas

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

€1,400

Fine Art Drawings, Intérieur, Paul Aïzpiri

Paul Aïzpiri

Fine Art Drawings . 35.5 x 34.5 cm Fine Art Drawings . 14 x 13.6 inch

€800

Sculpture, Panda Hermes, Naor

Naor

Sculpture . 35 x 30 x 28 cm Sculpture . 13.8 x 11.8 x 11 inch

€1,095

Painting, Paysage chinois 729, Xiu

Xiu

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

€600

Painting, Cover Book #2, Jana & JS

Jana & JS

Painting . 27.5 x 21 x 1 cm Painting . 10.8 x 8.3 x 0.4 inch

€950

Sculpture, Back to 1500, Sagrasse

Sagrasse

Sculpture . 30 x 20 x 20 cm Sculpture . 11.8 x 7.9 x 7.9 inch

€450

Sculpture, Donne V, Nando Kallweit

Nando Kallweit

Sculpture . 26 x 19 x 7 cm Sculpture . 10.2 x 7.5 x 2.8 inch

€2,229

Sculpture, HHop, Guoyi Liu

Guoyi Liu

Sculpture . 40 x 15 x 12 cm Sculpture . 15.7 x 5.9 x 4.7 inch

€950

Painting, Creekside picnic, Carla Bosch

Carla Bosch

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

€1,950

Sculpture, Solar Pulse, Liza Altman

Liza Altman

Sculpture . 38.6 x 38.6 x 4.6 cm Sculpture . 15.2 x 15.2 x 1.8 inch

€2,168

Design, Moaï, Thalia Dalecky

Thalia Dalecky

Design . 40 x 18 x 20 cm Design . 15.7 x 7.1 x 7.9 inch

€2,800

Painting, Go with me, Koa

Koa

Painting . 30 x 30 cm Painting . 11.8 x 11.8 inch

€310

Sculpture, Notre Mer, Jean Denant

Jean Denant

Sculpture . 23.5 x 50 x 0.4 cm Sculpture . 9.3 x 19.7 x 0.2 inch

€2,000

Painting, Interdit de colorier, Nep-

Nep-

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

€1,450

Fine Art Drawings, Looking up, Frank De Blok

Frank De Blok

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

€220

Painting, Landscape 414, Li Dongfeng

Li Dongfeng

Painting . 49 x 49 x 1 cm Painting . 19.3 x 19.3 x 0.4 inch

€800

Sculpture, Misty, Bernard Rives

Bernard Rives

Sculpture . 45 x 18 x 12 cm Sculpture . 17.7 x 7.1 x 4.7 inch

€1,800

Painting, Purple Dreams, Sol LeWitt

Sol LeWitt

Painting . 29 x 29 cm Painting . 11.4 x 11.4 inch

€18,900

Fine Art Drawings, Sans Titre, Xavier de Vilmorin

Xavier de Vilmorin

Fine Art Drawings . 42 x 32 x 0.3 cm Fine Art Drawings . 16.5 x 12.6 x 0.1 inch

€800

Print, Embrosos, Ceet Fouad

Ceet Fouad

Print . 47 x 47 x 2 cm Print . 18.5 x 18.5 x 0.8 inch

€1,800

Fine Art Drawings, The Great Beyond (on map), tizlu

tizlu

Fine Art Drawings . 38 x 48 x 0.1 cm Fine Art Drawings . 15 x 18.9 x 0 inch

€1,800

Sculpture, Chipie, Joseph Piermatteo

Joseph Piermatteo

Sculpture . 33 x 26 x 13 cm Sculpture . 13 x 10.2 x 5.1 inch

€980

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