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…

Read more
Painting, September, Janusz Szpyt

Janusz Szpyt

Painting . 23 x 45 cm Painting . 9.1 x 17.7 inch

€800

Painting, Couple, Patrick Loste

Patrick Loste

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

€1,300

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

Painting, Pensamiento, Marta Grassi

Marta Grassi

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

€900

Painting, Regard 2, J Eleme

J Eleme

Painting . 24 x 33 x 1.5 cm Painting . 9.4 x 13 x 0.6 inch

€300

Painting, L'instinct animal, Zafi

Zafi

Painting . 49 x 49 x 0.1 cm Painting . 19.3 x 19.3 x 0 inch

€1,450

Sculpture, Petit dragueur, Lolek

Lolek

Sculpture . 33 x 28 x 10 cm Sculpture . 13 x 11 x 3.9 inch

€3,490

Sculpture, Citrus, Scott Troxel

Scott Troxel

Sculpture . 33 x 22 x 5 cm Sculpture . 13 x 8.7 x 2 inch

€1,400

Sculpture, Chanoir x Minecraft, Chanoir

Chanoir

Sculpture . 30 x 21 x 6 cm Sculpture . 11.8 x 8.3 x 2.4 inch

€1,400

Painting, Ciudad Escondida, Degece

Degece

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

€1,600

Painting, Spring - 131225-5, Padelah

Padelah

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

€390

Sculpture, Yolo Hands Heart, Sagrasse

Sagrasse

Sculpture . 35 x 12 x 12 cm Sculpture . 13.8 x 4.7 x 4.7 inch

€320

Painting, Guillermo, Tom Furey

Tom Furey

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

€2,292

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

Painting, Mer indocile, Sylvie Pulur

Sylvie Pulur

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

€660

Painting, Lull, Robert Inestroza

Robert Inestroza

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

€520

Print, Secret path, Olga Rakova

Olga Rakova

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

€540

Sculpture, Yolo, Sagrasse

Sagrasse

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

€330

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

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, S.t, Tonino Guerra

S.t

Tonino Guerra

Painting . 50 x 40 x 1 cm Painting . 19.7 x 15.7 x 0.4 inch

€2,700

Painting, Sans Titre, Daniel Cayo

Daniel Cayo

Painting . 33 x 24 x 3 cm Painting . 13 x 9.4 x 1.2 inch

€850

Fine Art Drawings, Flower Calla Lilly, Helal Uddin

Helal Uddin

Fine Art Drawings . 40.6 x 30.5 x 0.3 cm Fine Art Drawings . 16 x 12 x 0.1 inch

€1,141

Print, Charity, Irena Aizen

Irena Aizen

Print . 36 x 23.5 x 1 cm Print . 14.2 x 9.3 x 0.4 inch

€648

Painting, Campagne, Ziv Lahat

Ziv Lahat

Painting . 37 x 37 x 4.5 cm Painting . 14.6 x 14.6 x 1.8 inch

€1,500

Painting, Lego, Galya Popova

Galya Popova

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

€960

Sculpture, Avo Carlo, Crix Lune

Crix Lune

Sculpture . 30 x 20.5 x 6 cm Sculpture . 11.8 x 8.1 x 2.4 inch

€350

Painting, Sweet pears, Marlene Llanes

Marlene Llanes

Painting . 40.6 x 50.8 x 2 cm Painting . 16 x 20 x 0.8 inch

€852

Sculpture, Phone 01, Diego Barros

Diego Barros

Sculpture . 28.5 x 23 x 18 cm Sculpture . 11.2 x 9.1 x 7.1 inch

€5,000

Painting, Room 2, Tamta Chachanidze

Tamta Chachanidze

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

€800

Painting, Dreamland, Maria Esmar

Maria Esmar

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

€900

Design, Rain, Yusuke Hanai

Yusuke Hanai

Design . 38.1 x 15 x 10 cm Design . 15 x 5.9 x 3.9 inch

€2,382

11/80