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, Tondo 1, Johanna Lisa

Johanna Lisa

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

€400

Fine Art Drawings, Paramécies 4, Thierry Robert

Thierry Robert

Fine Art Drawings . 30 x 40 x 0.1 cm Fine Art Drawings . 11.8 x 15.7 x 0 inch

€420 €378

Painting, Coastal Flora, Despa Hondros

Despa Hondros

Painting . 46 x 36 x 4 cm Painting . 18.1 x 14.2 x 1.6 inch

€1,300

Sculpture, Sisa, Coha

Coha

Sculpture . 39.5 x 19.9 x 9.8 cm Sculpture . 15.6 x 7.8 x 3.9 inch

€6,500

Fine Art Drawings, Star strangled banner, Almo

Almo

Fine Art Drawings . 34.8 x 24.9 x 0.3 cm Fine Art Drawings . 13.7 x 9.8 x 0.1 inch

€728

Sculpture, Survol, Gaël Rouxeville

Gaël Rouxeville

Sculpture . 17 x 29 x 11 cm Sculpture . 6.7 x 11.4 x 4.3 inch

€2,000

Painting, Blue dream, Sophie Petetin

Sophie Petetin

Painting . 38 x 30 x 2.5 cm Painting . 15 x 11.8 x 1 inch

€350

Painting, Best wishes, Shiori Nakano

Shiori Nakano

Painting . 23 x 30.5 x 0.2 cm Painting . 9.1 x 12 x 0.1 inch

€300

Painting, Aldgate East, David Walker

David Walker

Painting . 39 x 35 cm Painting . 15.4 x 13.8 inch

€1,155

Print, Chat Bleu, C215

C215

Print . 40 x 30 x 0.01 cm Print . 15.7 x 11.8 x 0 inch

€650 €610

Painting, Sans titre, Esmaël Bahrani

Esmaël Bahrani

Painting . 40 x 30 x 0.1 cm Painting . 15.7 x 11.8 x 0 inch

€1,100

Print, Pop Soup Generation, Ske

Ske

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

€175

Painting, Totemik in blue, Tarek

Tarek

Painting . 27 x 19 x 1 cm Painting . 10.6 x 7.5 x 0.4 inch

€200

Sculpture, In Love, Petra Dorst

Petra Dorst

Sculpture . 50 x 18 x 15 cm Sculpture . 19.7 x 7.1 x 5.9 inch

€4,800

Print, Sea Side, Jason Alexander

Jason Alexander

Print . 40.6 x 30.5 x 5.1 cm Print . 16 x 12 x 2 inch

€728

Sculpture, Nº 208, Pere Aragay

Pere Aragay

Sculpture . 45 x 30 x 25 cm Sculpture . 17.7 x 11.8 x 9.8 inch

€2,000

Painting, Sans titre, Meteo Meteo

Meteo Meteo

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

€120

Sculpture, Anphalos III, Philip Hearsey

Philip Hearsey

Sculpture . 49.5 x 20 x 12 cm Sculpture . 19.5 x 7.9 x 4.7 inch

€3,400

Painting, Nei ricordi, Sara Montani

Sara Montani

Painting . 25.5 x 25.5 x 2 cm Painting . 10 x 10 x 0.8 inch

€1,700

Print, Sous bois, Joel Giraud

Joel Giraud

Print . 50 x 32 x 0.1 cm Print . 19.7 x 12.6 x 0 inch

€120

Painting, Sola 3, Sola Puig

Sola Puig

Painting . 24 x 32 x 1 cm Painting . 9.4 x 12.6 x 0.4 inch

€1,250

Fine Art Drawings, Running Home I, Kirill Postovit

Kirill Postovit

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

€330

Painting, Bisou Bisou, Lili Tao

Lili Tao

Painting . 50 x 50 x 3.5 cm Painting . 19.7 x 19.7 x 1.4 inch

€1,350

Painting, Sand and Soul, JoAnn Godenir

JoAnn Godenir

Painting . 31 x 31 x 5 cm Painting . 12.2 x 12.2 x 2 inch

€625

Painting, Pirineos, Joaquin Cabane

Joaquin Cabane

Painting . 35 x 50 x 0.03 cm Painting . 13.8 x 19.7 x 0 inch

€850

Fine Art Drawings, La Lune, Hanna Bakula

Hanna Bakula

Fine Art Drawings . 30 x 19 cm Fine Art Drawings . 11.8 x 7.5 inch

€900

Photography, K 51, Sylvie Schambill

Sylvie Schambill

Photography . 30 x 20 x 0.1 cm Photography . 11.8 x 7.9 x 0 inch

€230

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