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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Painting, Landscape 90, Li Dongfeng

Li Dongfeng

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

€800

Painting, Untitled, Adam Sabhan

Adam Sabhan

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

€2,500

Painting, Untitled, Adam Sabhan

Adam Sabhan

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

€2,500

Painting, Linx, Lluís Bargalló

Lluís Bargalló

Painting . 42 x 30 x 2 cm Painting . 16.5 x 11.8 x 0.8 inch

€1,500

Painting, Étoiles, Christophe Ausello

Christophe Ausello

Painting . 40.5 x 33 x 2 cm Painting . 15.9 x 13 x 0.8 inch

€3,460

Painting, Wild West End, David Tycho

David Tycho

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

€1,500

Painting, Joker, Anne-Marie Torrisi

Anne-Marie Torrisi

Painting . 41 x 33 x 2 cm Painting . 16.1 x 13 x 0.8 inch

€5,500

Painting, Colombia, Maritza Bernal

Maritza Bernal

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

€1,200

Painting, Mademoiselle 33, Kaige Yang

Kaige Yang

Painting . 50 x 30 x 1 cm Painting . 19.7 x 11.8 x 0.4 inch

€1,300

Fine Art Drawings, Le dompteur, Camille Hilaire

Camille Hilaire

Fine Art Drawings . 30.5 x 22.5 cm Fine Art Drawings . 12 x 8.9 inch

€800

Painting, Touch, Olha Kizub

Olha Kizub

Painting . 45 x 45 x 1.5 cm Painting . 17.7 x 17.7 x 0.6 inch

€731

Painting, Masqué, Tarek

Tarek

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

€350

Painting, Douceur, Florence V. Henric

Florence V. Henric

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

€850

Painting, Greek Island XI, Kosta Morr

Kosta Morr

Painting . 30 x 42 x 0.1 cm Painting . 11.8 x 16.5 x 0 inch

€250

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, With Love, Dorit Levi

Dorit Levi

Painting . 50 x 35 x 0.5 cm Painting . 19.7 x 13.8 x 0.2 inch

€2,377

Print, L'age d'or, C215

C215

Print . 40 x 30 x 0.1 cm Print . 15.7 x 11.8 x 0 inch

€290

Fine Art Drawings, Sans titre, Matthieu Dorval

Matthieu Dorval

Fine Art Drawings . 30 x 30 x 0.1 cm Fine Art Drawings . 11.8 x 11.8 x 0 inch

€900

Sculpture, Crock de Toi (Love), Ninu

Ninu

Sculpture . 30 x 30 x 16 cm Sculpture . 11.8 x 11.8 x 6.3 inch

€4,800

Print, DeathMa793, Death NYC

Death NYC

Print . 32 x 44 x 0.1 cm Print . 12.6 x 17.3 x 0 inch

€199

Print, DeathF1548, Death NYC

Death NYC

Print . 45 x 32 x 0.1 cm Print . 17.7 x 12.6 x 0 inch

€199

Painting, Enfance, Sophie Hors

Sophie Hors

Painting . 40 x 30 x 3 cm Painting . 15.7 x 11.8 x 1.2 inch

€711

Painting, Smiling Skull 1, Tigma Art

Tigma Art

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

€183 €146

Painting, Préférence, Genny B

Genny B

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

€175

Painting, Eclat, Sandrine Hirson

Sandrine Hirson

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

€500

Sculpture, Untitled, Pere Aragay

Pere Aragay

Sculpture . 38.5 x 22 x 17.5 cm Sculpture . 15.2 x 8.7 x 6.9 inch

€1,300

Painting, Regard bleu, Mosko

Mosko

Painting . 30 x 37 x 2 cm Painting . 11.8 x 14.6 x 0.8 inch

€700

Painting, Caustic, Michael Grine

Michael Grine

Painting . 50.8 x 40.6 x 2.5 cm Painting . 20 x 16 x 1 inch

€914

Painting, Mirage VI, 1, Man et Pia

Man et Pia

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

€750

Painting, Muscaris, Pol Ledent

Pol Ledent

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

€600

Painting, Blue ZZG, Anthony Emerton

Anthony Emerton

Painting . 42 x 29.7 x 1 cm Painting . 16.5 x 11.7 x 0.4 inch

€5,450

Painting, Rumeur, Sandrine Hirson

Sandrine Hirson

Painting . 30 x 30 x 4 cm Painting . 11.8 x 11.8 x 1.6 inch

€298

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