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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Photography, #1, Julien Espiaut

#1

Julien Espiaut

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

€190

Photography, Eiffel, Bridgeman

Bridgeman

Photography . 27 x 20 x 0.1 cm Photography . 10.6 x 7.9 x 0 inch

€240

Painting, Zodiac, Iryna Burda

Iryna Burda

Painting . 29.7 x 42 x 0.1 cm Painting . 11.7 x 16.5 x 0 inch

€350

Painting, Waves, Iryna Burda

Iryna Burda

Painting . 29.7 x 42 x 0.1 cm Painting . 11.7 x 16.5 x 0 inch

€350

Painting, Red fish, Iryna Burda

Iryna Burda

Painting . 29.7 x 42 x 0.1 cm Painting . 11.7 x 16.5 x 0 inch

€350

Painting, Red Horse, Iryna Burda

Iryna Burda

Painting . 42 x 29.7 x 0.1 cm Painting . 16.5 x 11.7 x 0 inch

€350

Painting, Desire to live, Iryna Burda

Iryna Burda

Painting . 42 x 29.7 x 0.1 cm Painting . 16.5 x 11.7 x 0 inch

€350

Fine Art Drawings, Wintered, Simon Kozhin

Simon Kozhin

Fine Art Drawings . 20 x 30 x 0.1 cm Fine Art Drawings . 7.9 x 11.8 x 0 inch

€2,540

Painting, Voyou, JP Malot

JP Malot

Painting . 28 x 28 x 1 cm Painting . 11 x 11 x 0.4 inch

€300

Sculpture, Vase Mary, Isabelle Braud

Isabelle Braud

Sculpture . 50 x 22 x 41 cm Sculpture . 19.7 x 8.7 x 16.1 inch

€600

Painting, Brian, Karenina Fabrizzi

Karenina Fabrizzi

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

€338

Painting, Enso 18, Christian Deplante

Christian Deplante

Painting . 32 x 24 x 0.1 cm Painting . 12.6 x 9.4 x 0 inch

€300

Painting, Le combat, Alphée

Alphée

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

€600

Photography, Birds, Bridgeman

Bridgeman

Photography . 30 x 30 x 0.1 cm Photography . 11.8 x 11.8 x 0 inch

€240

Fine Art Drawings, Marcy?, Marianna Oklejak

Marianna Oklejak

Fine Art Drawings . 25.5 x 18.5 x 0.1 cm Fine Art Drawings . 10 x 7.3 x 0 inch

€290

Fine Art Drawings, Barb - 02, Barberousse

Barberousse

Fine Art Drawings . 21.5 x 31 x 0.2 cm Fine Art Drawings . 8.5 x 12.2 x 0.1 inch

€350

Photography, Picasso (1), Gjon Mili

Gjon Mili

Photography . 30 x 24 x 0.05 cm Photography . 11.8 x 9.4 x 0 inch

€250

Painting, Last snow, Boris Serdyuk

Boris Serdyuk

Painting . 35 x 50 x 2 cm Painting . 13.8 x 19.7 x 0.8 inch

€300

Painting, Enso 19, Christian Deplante

Christian Deplante

Painting . 41 x 30 x 0.1 cm Painting . 16.1 x 11.8 x 0 inch

€350

Painting, Prison break, Pol Ledent

Pol Ledent

Painting . 31 x 41 x 0.1 cm Painting . 12.2 x 16.1 x 0 inch

€250

Painting, Jaider, Celso Castro

Celso Castro

Painting . 49.5 x 34.9 x 0.3 cm Painting . 19.5 x 13.75 x 0.1 inch

€359

Photography, Boat, Bridgeman

Bridgeman

Photography . 30 x 20 x 0.1 cm Photography . 11.8 x 7.9 x 0 inch

€240

Photography, Porcelain Hand, Guy Sargent

Guy Sargent

Photography . 46 x 46 x 0.2 cm Photography . 18.1 x 18.1 x 0.1 inch

€515

Painting, Calm, Iryna Burda

Iryna Burda

Painting . 29.7 x 42 x 0.1 cm Painting . 11.7 x 16.5 x 0 inch

€350

Fine Art Drawings, Khelfa, Dominique Dève

Dominique Dève

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

€270

Fine Art Drawings, Winter day, Simon Kozhin

Simon Kozhin

Fine Art Drawings . 21 x 30 x 0.1 cm Fine Art Drawings . 8.3 x 11.8 x 0 inch

€2,800

Painting, Take-3, Andrii Davydenko

Andrii Davydenko

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

€500

Photography, Skiing Princess, Slim Aarons

Slim Aarons

Photography . 40 x 40 cm Photography . 15.7 x 15.7 inch

€3,690

Fine Art Drawings, 20200526 Happy Hours, Yaki Li

Yaki Li

Fine Art Drawings . 30.5 x 18 x 0.1 cm Fine Art Drawings . 12 x 7.1 x 0 inch

€185

Painting, Enso 15, Christian Deplante

Christian Deplante

Painting . 32 x 24 x 0.1 cm Painting . 12.6 x 9.4 x 0 inch

€300

Photography, Moon, Bridgeman

Bridgeman

Photography . 30 x 30 x 0.1 cm Photography . 11.8 x 11.8 x 0 inch

€240

Painting, In Romny, Egor Shvachunov

Egor Shvachunov

Painting . 25 x 30 x 2 cm Painting . 9.8 x 11.8 x 0.8 inch

€190

Painting, Take-1, Andrii Davydenko

Andrii Davydenko

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

€500

Fine Art Drawings, 4 petites mains, Nagsoul

Nagsoul

Fine Art Drawings . 32 x 24 cm Fine Art Drawings . 12.6 x 9.4 inch

€700

Fine Art Drawings, La beauté du monde, Blu_451

Blu_451

Fine Art Drawings . 32 x 25 x 1 cm Fine Art Drawings . 12.6 x 9.8 x 0.4 inch

€260

Fine Art Drawings, Circle Grammar #2, Petr Strnad

Petr Strnad

Fine Art Drawings . 45.5 x 34.1 x 0.1 cm Fine Art Drawings . 17.9 x 13.4 x 0 inch

€250

Fine Art Drawings, Circle Grammar #2, Petr Strnad

Petr Strnad

Fine Art Drawings . 45.8 x 40.2 x 0.1 cm Fine Art Drawings . 18 x 15.8 x 0 inch

€250

Fine Art Drawings, Barb - 03, Barberousse

Barberousse

Fine Art Drawings . 24 x 30 x 0.2 cm Fine Art Drawings . 9.4 x 11.8 x 0.1 inch

€350

Painting, Enso 14, Christian Deplante

Christian Deplante

Painting . 32 x 24 x 0.1 cm Painting . 12.6 x 9.4 x 0 inch

€300

Sculpture, Hexagon, George Koutsouris

George Koutsouris

Sculpture . 44 x 44 x 10 cm Sculpture . 17.3 x 17.3 x 3.9 inch

€700

Sculpture, Vase Endora, Isabelle Braud

Isabelle Braud

Sculpture . 40 x 20 x 20 cm Sculpture . 15.7 x 7.9 x 7.9 inch

€500

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