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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Sculpture, Reine, Catherine de Kerhor

Catherine de Kerhor

Sculpture . 38 x 30 x 33 cm Sculpture . 15 x 11.8 x 13 inch

€6,800

Painting, Tenderness, Nikolay Rusev

Nikolay Rusev

Painting . 46 x 40 x 2 cm Painting . 18.1 x 15.7 x 0.8 inch

€750

Photography, Diagonal, Dmitry Savchenko

Dmitry Savchenko

Photography . 50 x 35 x 1 cm Photography . 19.7 x 13.8 x 0.4 inch

€950

Sculpture, Teresa, Manuel Mediavilla

Manuel Mediavilla

Sculpture . 46 x 20 x 20 cm Sculpture . 18.1 x 7.9 x 7.9 inch

€4,200

Painting, Day dream  I, Olena Kishkurno

Olena Kishkurno

Painting . 30 x 24 x 2 cm Painting . 11.8 x 9.4 x 0.8 inch

€360

Painting, Venus no. 7, Mario Henrique

Mario Henrique

Painting . 40 x 40 x 0.1 cm Painting . 15.7 x 15.7 x 0 inch

€500

Painting, Venus no. 5, Mario Henrique

Mario Henrique

Painting . 40 x 40 x 0.1 cm Painting . 15.7 x 15.7 x 0 inch

€500

Painting, Venus no. 3, Mario Henrique

Mario Henrique

Painting . 40 x 40 x 0.1 cm Painting . 15.7 x 15.7 x 0 inch

€500

Painting, Venus no. 2, Mario Henrique

Mario Henrique

Painting . 40 x 40 x 0.1 cm Painting . 15.7 x 15.7 x 0 inch

€500

Painting, Venus no. 1, Mario Henrique

Mario Henrique

Painting . 40 x 40 x 0.1 cm Painting . 15.7 x 15.7 x 0 inch

€500

Fine Art Drawings, Sea woman, Dr. Love

Dr. Love

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

€50

Painting, Life and death, Shank Arte

Shank Arte

Painting . 30 x 20 x 1 cm Painting . 11.8 x 7.9 x 0.4 inch

€450

Sculpture, Nelia, Nando Kallweit

Nando Kallweit

Sculpture . 39 x 7 x 7 cm Sculpture . 15.4 x 2.8 x 2.8 inch

€1,991

Fine Art Drawings, Swan woman, Dr. Love

Dr. Love

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

€50

Sculpture, Pauline, Catherine de Kerhor

Catherine de Kerhor

Sculpture . 45 x 30 x 26 cm Sculpture . 17.7 x 11.8 x 10.2 inch

€7,400

Sculpture, Luna, Nando Kallweit

Nando Kallweit

Sculpture . 33 x 22.2 x 7 cm Sculpture . 13 x 8.7 x 2.8 inch

€1,690

Sculpture, Hera II, Nando Kallweit

Nando Kallweit

Sculpture . 31 x 7.5 x 7 cm Sculpture . 12.2 x 3 x 2.8 inch

€1,629

Painting, Family, Yuriy Lyamin

Yuriy Lyamin

Painting . 32 x 22 x 2 cm Painting . 12.6 x 8.7 x 0.8 inch

€1,463

Sculpture, L'arbre maitre, Raâk

Raâk

Sculpture . 33 x 20 x 14 cm Sculpture . 13 x 7.9 x 5.5 inch

€3,000

Sculpture, Jeux amoureux, Raâk

Raâk

Sculpture . 33 x 18 x 27 cm Sculpture . 13 x 7.1 x 10.6 inch

€2,500

Painting, Modest woman, Helen Spoon

Helen Spoon

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

€1,170

Sculpture, Amun, Erik Ebeling

Erik Ebeling

Sculpture . 50 x 18 x 18 cm Sculpture . 19.7 x 7.1 x 7.1 inch

€2,011

Print, Couple lisant, Hans Erni

Hans Erni

Print . 38 x 28 x 0.05 cm Print . 15 x 11 x 0 inch

€480

Painting, Dans les yeux, Shank Arte

Shank Arte

Painting . 30 x 20 x 1 cm Painting . 11.8 x 7.9 x 0.4 inch

€420

Sculpture, Waiting, Pere Sala

Pere Sala

Sculpture . 28 x 42 x 20 cm Sculpture . 11 x 16.5 x 7.9 inch

€4,300

Sculpture, Small pugnatum I, Jesus Curia

Jesus Curia

Sculpture . 26 x 16 x 16 cm Sculpture . 10.2 x 6.3 x 6.3 inch

€1,700

Sculpture, Juliana II, Nando Kallweit

Nando Kallweit

Sculpture . 11 x 28 x 4 cm Sculpture . 4.3 x 11 x 1.6 inch

€1,690

Sculpture, Parenthese tatoo, Josepha

Josepha

Sculpture . 40 x 32 x 26 cm Sculpture . 15.7 x 12.6 x 10.2 inch

€21,000

Sculpture, Mighty wave, Binbin Liang

Binbin Liang

Sculpture . 44 x 29 x 42 cm Sculpture . 17.3 x 11.4 x 16.5 inch

€9,500

Fine Art Drawings, La mer 24, Richard Pommier

Richard Pommier

Fine Art Drawings . 30 x 21 x 0.8 cm Fine Art Drawings . 11.8 x 8.3 x 0.3 inch

€200

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