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, Révéler, David Jamin

David Jamin

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

€1,000

Painting, La digue, AKET

AKET

Painting - 30 x 24 x 1 cm Painting - 11.8 x 9.4 x 0.4 inch

€800 €720

Painting, Black galaxy, Ana Hefco

Ana Hefco

Painting - 40.6 x 40.6 x 3.8 cm Painting - 16 x 16 x 1.5 inch

€601

Sculpture, Mockery - Blue, Gregos

Gregos

Sculpture - 35 x 35 x 7 cm Sculpture - 13.8 x 13.8 x 2.8 inch

€850

Fine Art Drawings, Sies Marjan, Manuel Santelices

Manuel Santelices

Fine Art Drawings - 35.6 x 27.9 x 0.3 cm Fine Art Drawings - 14 x 11 x 0.1 inch

€712

Sculpture, On a cloud, Antony Squizzato

Antony Squizzato

Sculpture - 30 x 30 x 30 cm Sculpture - 11.8 x 11.8 x 11.8 inch

€2,230

Sculpture, Blue Heart, cObo

cObo

Sculpture - 25.9 x 15 x 17 cm Sculpture - 10.2 x 5.9 x 6.7 inch

€800

Sculpture, Mère et enfant, Stratos

Stratos

Sculpture - 34 x 38 x 15 cm Sculpture - 13.4 x 15 x 5.9 inch

€1,700

Sculpture, Munny Cameleon (1), Onemizer

Onemizer

Sculpture - 45 x 40 x 30 cm Sculpture - 17.7 x 15.7 x 11.8 inch

€4,900

Painting, Lena, Lianne Kocks

Lianne Kocks

Painting - 40 x 30 x 4 cm Painting - 15.7 x 11.8 x 1.6 inch

€800

Sculpture, Chapeau l'Artiste, Lolek

Lolek

Sculpture - 35 x 27 x 10.5 cm Sculpture - 13.8 x 10.6 x 4.1 inch

€3,200

Print, Sans titre, Zao Wou-Ki

Zao Wou-Ki

Print - 31 x 21 x 0.1 cm Print - 12.2 x 8.3 x 0 inch

€1,700

Sculpture, Mario, Fat

Fat

Sculpture - 50 x 35 x 25 cm Sculpture - 19.7 x 13.8 x 9.8 inch

€1,800

Fine Art Drawings, La sieste sous les arbres, Jéko

Jéko

Fine Art Drawings - 29.7 x 42 x 0.2 cm Fine Art Drawings - 11.7 x 16.5 x 0.1 inch

€830

Fine Art Drawings, Le trait - 04, Ludovica Cholet

Ludovica Cholet

Fine Art Drawings - 40 x 30 x 0.5 cm Fine Art Drawings - 15.7 x 11.8 x 0.2 inch

€600

Painting, Bis, Hervé Souffi

Bis

Hervé Souffi

Painting - 40 x 40 x 4 cm Painting - 15.7 x 15.7 x 1.6 inch

€680

Painting, Viviane, Nathalie Le Reste

Nathalie Le Reste

Painting - 50 x 33 x 2 cm Painting - 19.7 x 13 x 0.8 inch

€750

Painting, New Life, Fanny Arro

Fanny Arro

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

€650

Painting, Mon regard Korea, André.M

André.M

Painting - 27.9 x 42 x 0.1 cm Painting - 11 x 16.5 x 0 inch

€500

Painting, Blue space II, Luis Medina

Luis Medina

Painting - 39.9 x 39.9 x 4.1 cm Painting - 15.7 x 15.7 x 1.6 inch

€588

Painting, Scene de cirque, Pinkhas

Pinkhas

Painting - 50 x 40 x 5 cm Painting - 19.7 x 15.7 x 2 inch

€800

Painting, Sans titre, Jean Fautrier

Jean Fautrier

Painting - 24 x 32 cm Painting - 9.4 x 12.6 inch

€15,000

Painting, Océan, Alexandra Battezzati

Alexandra Battezzati

Painting - 50 x 50 x 3.5 cm Painting - 19.7 x 19.7 x 1.4 inch

€1,200

Photography, Blue Blondie, Mick Rock

Mick Rock

Photography - 40 x 40 x 0.1 cm Photography - 15.7 x 15.7 x 0 inch

€1,975

Painting, Ballerine, Roger Worms

Roger Worms

Painting - 33 x 24 x 2 cm Painting - 13 x 9.4 x 0.8 inch

€500

Painting, Toi et moi, Eurgal

Eurgal

Painting - 40 x 40 x 2.5 cm Painting - 15.7 x 15.7 x 1 inch

€1,200

Painting, Destroyer, Laëtitia Giraud

Laëtitia Giraud

Painting - 27 x 35 x 2 cm Painting - 10.6 x 13.8 x 0.8 inch

€500

Painting, Japanese style brunch, Jady

Jady

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

€540

Painting, Abstract VI, Mykola Bodnar

Mykola Bodnar

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

€750

Painting, Ma belle et moi, 17 Kael

17 Kael

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

€690

Painting, Sans Tître A, Robert Mus

Robert Mus

Painting - 30 x 45 x 7 cm Painting - 11.8 x 17.7 x 2.8 inch

€700

Print, Faisceaux lumineux, ART-MCB

ART-MCB

Print - 40.5 x 30 x 3 cm Print - 15.9 x 11.8 x 1.2 inch

€1,750

Painting, Marianne, O Gringo

O Gringo

Painting - 45 x 30 x 3 cm Painting - 17.7 x 11.8 x 1.2 inch

€850

Painting, China Asters, Alla Vitta

Alla Vitta

Painting - 36 x 27 x 2 cm Painting - 14.2 x 10.6 x 0.8 inch

€1,620

Photography, A Chick, Emil Farber

Emil Farber

Photography - 26.5 x 40 x 0.1 cm Photography - 10.4 x 15.7 x 0 inch

€500

Painting, Antibes, Victor Hasch

Victor Hasch

Painting - 22 x 27.5 x 3 cm Painting - 8.7 x 10.8 x 1.2 inch

€500

Painting, Avalokitesvara, Taiyu Zhou

Taiyu Zhou

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

€800

Painting, Wall Breaths, Bze Bzeland

Bze Bzeland

Painting - 27.8 x 16 x 1 cm Painting - 10.9 x 6.3 x 0.4 inch

€250

Sculpture, Ohne Titel, Gerd Kanz

Gerd Kanz

Sculpture - 30 x 30 x 4 cm Sculpture - 11.8 x 11.8 x 1.6 inch

€1,200

Sculpture, Doggy John, Julien Marinetti

Julien Marinetti

Sculpture - 36 x 45 x 25 cm Sculpture - 14.2 x 17.7 x 9.8 inch

€13,900

1/67