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, Medicine, Miiickey Madu

Miiickey Madu

Painting . 42 x 30 x 0.1 cm Painting . 16.5 x 11.8 x 0 inch

€4,000

Painting, Aurore, Jean-Claude Bertrand

Jean-Claude Bertrand

Painting . 50 x 40 x 2 cm Painting . 19.7 x 15.7 x 0.8 inch

€1,690

Painting, Céleste, Jules Atarax

Jules Atarax

Painting . 50 x 40 x 0.2 cm Painting . 19.7 x 15.7 x 0.1 inch

€2,500

Painting, Respire 7, Sandrine Hirson

Sandrine Hirson

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

€440

Painting, Respire 6, Sandrine Hirson

Sandrine Hirson

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

€350

Painting, Respire 5, Sandrine Hirson

Sandrine Hirson

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

€350

Painting, Respire 4, Sandrine Hirson

Sandrine Hirson

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

€350

Painting, In vitro, Thierry Bronchart

Thierry Bronchart

Painting . 46 x 33 x 2 cm Painting . 18.1 x 13 x 0.8 inch

€1,200

Painting, Serenity, Natalia Naumova

Natalia Naumova

Painting . 50 x 50 x 1.7 cm Painting . 19.7 x 19.7 x 0.7 inch

€1,141

Painting, Luberon, Jean-Marc Guillaume

Jean-Marc Guillaume

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

€1,100

Painting, Lego, Galya Popova

Galya Popova

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

€960

Painting, Calèche, Adolfo Carducci

Adolfo Carducci

Painting . 25 x 33 x 0.3 cm Painting . 9.8 x 13 x 0.1 inch

€1,061

Painting, Sulking, Sergio Capitani

Sergio Capitani

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

€680

Painting, Quiver, Anya Spielman

Anya Spielman

Painting . 36.83 x 27.94 cm Painting . 14.5 x 11 inch

€2,479

Painting, Ciel, Matthieu Dorval

Matthieu Dorval

Painting . 33 x 41 x 1 cm Painting . 13 x 16.1 x 0.4 inch

€1,200

Painting, Ceremony, Robert Inestroza

Robert Inestroza

Painting . 33 x 24 x 2 cm Painting . 13 x 9.4 x 0.8 inch

€550

Painting, Breakfast, Alisa Diakova

Alisa Diakova

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

€685 €616

Painting, Untitled, Elene Melikidze

Elene Melikidze

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

€950

Painting, Beachhouse, Peter de Boer

Peter de Boer

Painting . 50 x 40 x 2 cm Painting . 19.7 x 15.7 x 0.8 inch

€1,380

Fine Art Drawings, La sieste sous les arbres, Jéko

Jéko

Fine Art Drawings . 29.7 x 42 x 0.2 cm Fine Art Drawings . 11.7 x 16.5 x 0.1 inch

€830

Painting, Untitled, Vicente Verdú

Vicente Verdú

Painting . 27.3 x 25 cm Painting . 10.7 x 9.8 inch

€500

Painting, NYC, Michel Narbonne

NYC

Michel Narbonne

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

€325

Painting, Sunflowers, Pavla Ksenia

Pavla Ksenia

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

€904

Painting, Untitled, Natia Sapanadze

Natia Sapanadze

Painting . 38 x 33 x 3 cm Painting . 15 x 13 x 1.2 inch

€850

Painting, Arance Moro, Galya Popova

Galya Popova

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

€960

Painting, Warm days, Galya Popova

Galya Popova

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

€960 €864

Painting, Rêves de bleus, Autonne

Autonne

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

€1,500

Painting, Untitled, Ilia Balavadze

Ilia Balavadze

Painting . 50 x 30 x 3 cm Painting . 19.7 x 11.8 x 1.2 inch

€700

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