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, Winter Snow, MaryAnn Cleary

MaryAnn Cleary

Painting . 30.5 x 40.6 x 0.3 cm Painting . 12 x 16 x 0.1 inch

€695

Fine Art Drawings, Paysage, Patrick Lanneau

Patrick Lanneau

Fine Art Drawings . 30 x 42 x 0.1 cm Fine Art Drawings . 11.8 x 16.5 x 0 inch

€250

Painting, The Charmer, Grace Diehl

Grace Diehl

Painting . 27.9 x 35.6 x 1.8 cm Painting . 11 x 14 x 0.7 inch

€844

Painting, Three Sheds, Richard Szkutnik

Richard Szkutnik

Painting . 40.6 x 50.8 x 0.5 cm Painting . 16 x 20 x 0.2 inch

€1,417

Painting, Les bambous, Hastaire

Hastaire

Painting . 28 x 23.5 cm Painting . 11 x 9.3 inch

€300

Sculpture, Light Tree, Emma Levine

Emma Levine

Sculpture . 45 x 45 x 5 cm Sculpture . 17.7 x 17.7 x 2 inch

€2,535

Painting, Nature, Oleksandr Vynnyk

Oleksandr Vynnyk

Painting . 20 x 35 x 2 cm Painting . 7.9 x 13.8 x 0.8 inch

€183

Painting, Kolochava, Alexander Shandor

Alexander Shandor

Painting . 20 x 40 x 3 cm Painting . 7.9 x 15.7 x 1.2 inch

€549

Painting, Sabot - 2, Manuela Ferreira

Manuela Ferreira

Painting . 40 x 30 x 1 cm Painting . 15.7 x 11.8 x 0.4 inch

€230 €207

Painting, Untitled, Mansour El Habre

Mansour El Habre

Painting . 30 x 21 x 0.5 cm Painting . 11.8 x 8.3 x 0.2 inch

€800

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, Autumn Day, Alexander Shandor

Alexander Shandor

Painting . 35 x 41 x 0.3 cm Painting . 13.8 x 16.1 x 0.1 inch

€914

Painting, Morning Mist, Timon Sloane

Timon Sloane

Painting . 22.9 x 30.5 x 1.3 cm Painting . 9 x 12 x 0.5 inch

€526

Painting, Lungomare, Silvia Rossi

Silvia Rossi

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

€900

Painting, Paysage, Arthur Van Hecke

Arthur Van Hecke

Painting . 27 x 22 cm Painting . 10.6 x 8.7 inch

€450

Painting, Mountains, Tetiana Chubukova

Tetiana Chubukova

Painting . 39.5 x 49.5 x 2.8 cm Painting . 15.6 x 19.5 x 1.1 inch

€1,371

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

Print, Moon, Robert Longo

Robert Longo

Print . 29.2 x 29.2 x 0.01 cm Print . 11.5 x 11.5 x 0 inch

€5,900

Painting, End of the Day, Brian King

Brian King

Painting . 39.9 x 50 x 2 cm Painting . 15.7 x 19.7 x 0.8 inch

€2,828

Photography, Gaïa, Coralie Honnorat

Coralie Honnorat

Photography . 20 x 30 x 2 cm Photography . 7.9 x 11.8 x 0.8 inch

€200

Fine Art Drawings, Study of Lion, Wilhelm Lorenz

Wilhelm Lorenz

Fine Art Drawings . 19.5 x 26.5 x 0.1 cm Fine Art Drawings . 7.7 x 10.4 x 0 inch

€360

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

Fine Art Drawings, Matin 5h45, Matthieu Dorval

Matthieu Dorval

Fine Art Drawings . 29.5 x 41.5 x 0.1 cm Fine Art Drawings . 11.6 x 16.3 x 0 inch

€1,100

Painting, Summer Heat II, Jane W

Jane W

Painting . 21 x 27 x 4 cm Painting . 8.3 x 10.6 x 1.6 inch

€471

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, Panier, Manuela Ferreira

Manuela Ferreira

Painting . 30 x 40 x 1 cm Painting . 11.8 x 15.7 x 0.4 inch

€230 €207

Painting, Warm Day, Alexander Shandor

Alexander Shandor

Painting . 35 x 40 x 0.3 cm Painting . 13.8 x 15.7 x 0.1 inch

€457 €320

Print, Church, Giovanni Stradone

Giovanni Stradone

Print . 40 x 50 x 0.3 cm Print . 15.7 x 19.7 x 0.1 inch

€200

Painting, Automne I, Lu Ma

Lu Ma

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

€2,500

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