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, Portrait, Guy Ghazanchyan

Guy Ghazanchyan

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

€800

Painting, When seas collide, Paul B

Paul B

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

€994

Painting, Arbre rouge, Eurgal

Eurgal

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

€1,200

Painting, Entrelacs 4, Sophie Dumont

Sophie Dumont

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

€990

Painting, Normandy 2, Sophie Dumont

Sophie Dumont

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

€990

Painting, Normandie, Sophie Dumont

Sophie Dumont

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

€990

Painting, Blue landscape, Sophie Dumont

Sophie Dumont

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

€1,200

Painting, Nuances, Sophie Dumont

Sophie Dumont

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

€1,100

Painting, Sans titre, Meteo Meteo

Meteo Meteo

Painting . 29.7 x 21 x 0.1 cm Painting . 11.7 x 8.3 x 0 inch

€120

Painting, Landscape 28, Layla Dagher

Layla Dagher

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

€900

Painting, Arthur, Benoît Tranchant

Benoît Tranchant

Painting . 40 x 29 x 2 cm Painting . 15.7 x 11.4 x 0.8 inch

€700

Painting, Guardians 1, Lena Langer

Lena Langer

Painting . 30 x 30 x 15 cm Painting . 11.8 x 11.8 x 5.9 inch

€903

Painting, Irish coffe, Thomas Loyatho

Thomas Loyatho

Painting . 31 x 48 x 3 cm Painting . 12.2 x 18.9 x 1.2 inch

€1,000

Painting, Vie d'atelier, Sophie Dumont

Sophie Dumont

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

€1,690

Painting, Amarillo, Sophie Dumont

Sophie Dumont

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

€1,850

Painting, Mon atelier, Sophie Dumont

Sophie Dumont

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

€1,500

Painting, Abstract 2263, Alex Senchenko

Alex Senchenko

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

€566

Painting, Untitled, Fatima El Hajj

Fatima El Hajj

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

€5,000

Painting, Vaisseau, Florence Boré

Florence Boré

Painting . 40 x 40 x 0.1 cm Painting . 15.7 x 15.7 x 0 inch

€1,000

Painting, Woman XXII, Eulogia Merle

Eulogia Merle

Painting . 46 x 30 x 4 cm Painting . 18.1 x 11.8 x 1.6 inch

€836

Painting, Old toys, Gilbert Pauli

Gilbert Pauli

Painting . 30 x 27 x 2 cm Painting . 11.8 x 10.6 x 0.8 inch

€1,358

Painting, Untitled, Fatima El Hajj

Fatima El Hajj

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

€5,000

Painting, Magnolia - Selene, Poovi Art

Poovi Art

Painting . 50.8 x 40.6 x 5.1 cm Painting . 20 x 16 x 2 inch

€497

Sculpture, Fairy, Milko Dobrev

Milko Dobrev

Sculpture . 34 x 8 x 7 cm Sculpture . 13.4 x 3.1 x 2.8 inch

€1,200

Painting, Tolerance, Gilbert Pauli

Gilbert Pauli

Painting . 25 x 27 x 2 cm Painting . 9.8 x 10.6 x 0.8 inch

€1,358

Painting, Untitled, Fatima El Hajj

Fatima El Hajj

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

€5,000

Painting, Candelaria, Eulogia Merle

Eulogia Merle

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

€1,100

Painting, July, Svetlana Saprykina

Svetlana Saprykina

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

€542

Painting, Vibration, Sandrine Hirson

Sandrine Hirson

Painting . 40 x 40 x 1.7 cm Painting . 15.7 x 15.7 x 0.7 inch

€300

Painting, Live in my soul 2, Poovi Art

Poovi Art

Painting . 50.8 x 40.6 x 3.8 cm Painting . 20 x 16 x 1.5 inch

€452

Painting, Eau bleue, Isabelle Marie

Isabelle Marie

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

€600