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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Print, Partisan, Giacomo Manzú

Giacomo Manzú

Print . 50 x 38 x 0.1 cm Print . 19.7 x 15 x 0 inch

€1,200

Fine Art Drawings, Nude (1) (1), Tomasz Kaim

Tomasz Kaim

Fine Art Drawings . 35 x 35 x 2 cm Fine Art Drawings . 13.8 x 13.8 x 0.8 inch

€590

Painting, Childhood, Kane Mclay

Kane Mclay

Painting . 40 x 30 x 0.5 cm Painting . 15.7 x 11.8 x 0.2 inch

€560

Fine Art Drawings, Venus, Iana Cherepansky

Iana Cherepansky

Fine Art Drawings . 26 x 18 x 0.1 cm Fine Art Drawings . 10.2 x 7.1 x 0 inch

€903

Sculpture, P3, Paul Bosland

P3

Paul Bosland

Sculpture . 31 x 7 x 12 cm Sculpture . 12.2 x 2.8 x 4.7 inch

€2,150

Sculpture, Latona, Angélina Maia

Angélina Maia

Sculpture . 40 x 29 x 15 cm Sculpture . 15.7 x 11.4 x 5.9 inch

€2,700

Print, Métamorphose, Corneille

Corneille

Print . 48 x 36 x 0.2 cm Print . 18.9 x 14.2 x 0.1 inch

€550

Painting, Flowers, Reinaldo Chavez

Reinaldo Chavez

Painting . 15 x 35 cm Painting . 5.9 x 13.8 inch

€370

Painting, Sapristi, Walter Minus

Walter Minus

Painting . 43 x 33 cm Painting . 16.9 x 13 inch

€1,490

Fine Art Drawings, Esquisse, Isabelle Hirtzig

Isabelle Hirtzig

Fine Art Drawings . 31 x 31 x 0.1 cm Fine Art Drawings . 12.2 x 12.2 x 0 inch

€155

Painting, L'Endormie, Artur

Artur

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

€1,400

Painting, Cirque, Christelle Lenci

Christelle Lenci

Painting . 16 x 47 cm Painting . 6.3 x 18.5 inch

€1,400

Painting, Watch Out, Max Mayoral

Max Mayoral

Painting . 26 x 20 x 1 cm Painting . 10.2 x 7.9 x 0.4 inch

€945

Sculpture, Big Trip, Dagmar Vogt

Dagmar Vogt

Sculpture . 26 x 25 x 7 cm Sculpture . 10.2 x 9.8 x 2.8 inch

€4,200

Painting, Cavalier, Christelle Lenci

Christelle Lenci

Painting . 50 x 50 cm Painting . 19.7 x 19.7 inch

€2,200

Fine Art Drawings, N° 815  Subtile, R. Cavalié

R. Cavalié

Fine Art Drawings . 47 x 46 x 0.3 cm Fine Art Drawings . 18.5 x 18.1 x 0.1 inch

€200

Painting, Le baiser, Kevin Lombarte

Kevin Lombarte

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

€240

Fine Art Drawings, Sea woman, Dr. Love

Dr. Love

Fine Art Drawings . 40 x 30 x 0.2 cm Fine Art Drawings . 15.7 x 11.8 x 0.1 inch

€50

Painting, Nude, Kane Mclay

Kane Mclay

Painting . 40 x 30 x 0.5 cm Painting . 15.7 x 11.8 x 0.2 inch

€560

Painting, Eclipse, Elizabeth Becker

Elizabeth Becker

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

€163

Painting, Nude No. 88, Elizabeth Becker

Elizabeth Becker

Painting . 40.6 x 50.8 x 0.3 cm Painting . 16 x 20 x 0.1 inch

€298

Painting, Body No. 3, Elizabeth Becker

Elizabeth Becker

Painting . 50.8 x 40.6 x 0.3 cm Painting . 20 x 16 x 0.1 inch

€298

Painting, Body No. 2, Elizabeth Becker

Elizabeth Becker

Painting . 40.6 x 25.4 x 0.3 cm Painting . 16 x 10 x 0.1 inch

€244

Painting, Nude No. 67, Elizabeth Becker

Elizabeth Becker

Painting . 50.8 x 40.6 x 0.3 cm Painting . 20 x 16 x 0.1 inch

€208

Painting, Hold On, Elizabeth Becker

Elizabeth Becker

Painting . 50.8 x 40.6 cm Painting . 20 x 16 inch

€343

Sculpture, Piggyback, Dagmar Vogt

Dagmar Vogt

Sculpture . 42 x 8 x 8 cm Sculpture . 16.5 x 3.1 x 3.1 inch

€3,800

Fine Art Drawings, N° 761 Flexion, R. Cavalié

R. Cavalié

Fine Art Drawings . 48 x 40 x 0.3 cm Fine Art Drawings . 18.9 x 15.7 x 0.1 inch

€200

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