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, Couple, Patrick Loste

Patrick Loste

Painting . 29 x 36 cm Painting . 11.4 x 14.2 inch

€1,300

Painting, Ciudad Escondida, Degece

Degece

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

€1,600

Print, The Rescue, Ibrahim Kodra

Ibrahim Kodra

Print . 50 x 35 x 0.1 cm Print . 19.7 x 13.8 x 0 inch

€360

Painting, Le Bouquet, Géraldine G.

Géraldine G.

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

€1,800

Fine Art Drawings, L'espoir en vert, Evelyne Postic

Evelyne Postic

Fine Art Drawings . 40 x 30 x 0.01 cm Fine Art Drawings . 15.7 x 11.8 x 0 inch

€850

Sculpture, Yolo, Sagrasse

Sagrasse

Sculpture . 32 x 12 x 12 cm Sculpture . 12.6 x 4.7 x 4.7 inch

€330 €297

Painting, Old Town Morning, Igor Galan

Igor Galan

Painting . 30 x 36 x 2 cm Painting . 11.8 x 14.2 x 0.8 inch

€950

Painting, Guillermo, Tom Furey

Tom Furey

Painting . 50.8 x 40.6 x 1.3 cm Painting . 20 x 16 x 0.5 inch

€2,259

Painting, Caminant, David Casals

David Casals

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

€1,050

Print, 6.2 Million Snack, Ske

Ske

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

€175

Painting, Le mec, Robert Combas

Robert Combas

Painting . 35 x 25 x 2 cm Painting . 13.8 x 9.8 x 0.8 inch

€22,500

Sculpture, Piti Cha'migo, Lolek

Lolek

Sculpture . 27 x 22 x 12.5 cm Sculpture . 10.6 x 8.7 x 4.9 inch

€3,200

Sculpture, Color Block #12, Anne Ghez

Anne Ghez

Sculpture . 38 x 20 x 5 cm Sculpture . 15 x 7.9 x 2 inch

€1,800

Painting, Forest- day, Lumona

Lumona

Painting . 36 x 46 x 3 cm Painting . 14.2 x 18.1 x 1.2 inch

€1,900

Painting, Green Harmony, Ara Gasparyan

Ara Gasparyan

Painting . 35 x 24 x 2 cm Painting . 13.8 x 9.4 x 0.8 inch

€289

Painting, Pink Poppy II, Allan O'Marra

Allan O'Marra

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

€881

Fine Art Drawings, Changelings, Vincent Pompetti

Vincent Pompetti

Fine Art Drawings . 40 x 50 x 0.1 cm Fine Art Drawings . 15.7 x 19.7 x 0 inch

€950

Print, Sans titre, Henri Goetz

Henri Goetz

Print . 28.5 x 24 x 0.05 cm Print . 11.2 x 9.4 x 0 inch

€450

Fine Art Drawings, Théorèmes #1, Nagsoul

Nagsoul

Fine Art Drawings . 22 x 32 x 0.1 cm Fine Art Drawings . 8.7 x 12.6 x 0 inch

€800

Fine Art Drawings, Composition 2, Roland Topor

Roland Topor

Fine Art Drawings . 32 x 50 cm Fine Art Drawings . 12.6 x 19.7 inch

€5,000

Painting, Sunflowers, Simon Kozhin

Simon Kozhin

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

€4,500

Painting, Scoop3, Agathe Wagner

Agathe Wagner

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

€950

Painting, Lycian palms, Simon Kozhin

Simon Kozhin

Painting . 20 x 30 x 0.3 cm Painting . 7.9 x 11.8 x 0.1 inch

€3,300

Painting, Surrender, Robert Inestroza

Robert Inestroza

Painting . 27 x 41 x 2 cm Painting . 10.6 x 16.1 x 0.8 inch

€620

Painting, Untitled #1, Georgik

Georgik

Painting . 32 x 30 cm Painting . 12.6 x 11.8 inch

€800

Painting, Portal (pink ) II, Susan L

Susan L

Painting . 50 x 40 x 4 cm Painting . 19.7 x 15.7 x 1.6 inch

€1,807

Painting, Breathing, Galya Popova

Galya Popova

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

€1,120

Fine Art Drawings, Deux chiens, Katsuhiko Hibino

Katsuhiko Hibino

Fine Art Drawings . 22.5 x 29.5 x 0.1 cm Fine Art Drawings . 8.9 x 11.6 x 0 inch

€650

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