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
Fine Art Drawings, La vie est belle, Tarek

Tarek

Fine Art Drawings . 37.5 x 23.4 x 0.1 cm Fine Art Drawings . 14.8 x 9.2 x 0 inch

€550

Painting, James Cosmo, Brian King

Brian King

Painting . 39.9 x 30 x 1.5 cm Painting . 15.7 x 11.8 x 0.6 inch

€1,096

Sculpture, Aigua III, Teresa Riba

Teresa Riba

Sculpture . 34 x 33 x 14 cm Sculpture . 13.4 x 13 x 5.5 inch

€3,800

Photography, #11, Julien Espiaut

#11

Julien Espiaut

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

€190

Painting, Lupo, Tarek

Tarek

Painting . 27 x 19 x 2 cm Painting . 10.6 x 7.5 x 0.8 inch

€220

Painting, Lieu Dit, Jean-Luc Veret

Jean-Luc Veret

Painting . 30 x 46 x 2 cm Painting . 11.8 x 18.1 x 0.8 inch

€350

Painting, Il cane, Alexander Daniloff

Alexander Daniloff

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

€180

Painting, Capo Volto, Giuseppe Madonia

Giuseppe Madonia

Painting . 42 x 32 x 0.2 cm Painting . 16.5 x 12.6 x 0.1 inch

€500

Painting, Eagle, Serhii Cherniakovskyi

Serhii Cherniakovskyi

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

€452

Painting, Sweet Noise, Marina Belousova

Marina Belousova

Painting . 25.4 x 25.4 x 4.1 cm Painting . 10 x 10 x 1.6 inch

€226

Painting, Beyond th road, Pol Ledent

Pol Ledent

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

€300

Painting, Memories 6, Almazan Miquel

Almazan Miquel

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

€750

Sculpture, Martre 33-18, Philippe Buil

Philippe Buil

Sculpture . 12 x 28 x 6 cm Sculpture . 4.7 x 11 x 2.4 inch

€600 €510

Painting, Red shoes, Benjamin Carrivick

Benjamin Carrivick

Painting . 29 x 20.1 x 0.3 cm Painting . 11.4 x 7.9 x 0.1 inch

€222

Fine Art Drawings, Provencale No. 17, Pascal Plazanet

Pascal Plazanet

Fine Art Drawings . 29.5 x 42 x 0.1 cm Fine Art Drawings . 11.6 x 16.5 x 0 inch

€1,400

Painting, Untitled, Leo Guida

Leo Guida

Painting . 40 x 50 x 3 cm Painting . 15.7 x 19.7 x 1.2 inch

€1,000

Painting, Botanicus, Florence Boré

Florence Boré

Painting . 40 x 34 x 0.3 cm Painting . 15.7 x 13.4 x 0.1 inch

€2,500

Painting, Automne, Anton

Anton

Painting . 30 x 30 x 1.8 cm Painting . 11.8 x 11.8 x 0.7 inch

€150

Sculpture, Ants Are Xtra, Coco Hall

Coco Hall

Sculpture . 30.48 x 22.86 x 1 cm Sculpture . 12 x 9 x 0.4 inch

€271

Painting, It Snowed, Valery Savenets

Valery Savenets

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

€250

Painting, Stream of Time, Jane Nee

Jane Nee

Painting . 31.5 x 41 x 1.5 cm Painting . 12.4 x 16.1 x 0.6 inch

€543

Painting, Wanderlust 1, Lumona

Lumona

Painting . 45 x 35 x 3 cm Painting . 17.7 x 13.8 x 1.2 inch

€2,600

Painting, Image no. 5, Sean Hemeon

Sean Hemeon

Painting . 50.8 x 45.7 x 0.3 cm Painting . 20 x 18 x 0.1 inch

€696

21/39