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, Apples, Kalya Zografova

Kalya Zografova

Painting . 40 x 50 x 0.5 cm Painting . 15.7 x 19.7 x 0.2 inch

€900

Painting, Fleur jaune, Alfred Defossez

Alfred Defossez

Painting . 46 x 38 x 2.5 cm Painting . 18.1 x 15 x 1 inch

€1,250

Painting, Apples 28, Rafal Gadowski

Rafal Gadowski

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

€1,100

Painting, What remains, Liz Gartz

Liz Gartz

Painting . 25 x 50 x 3 cm Painting . 9.8 x 19.7 x 1.2 inch

€900

Painting, Lemons 24, Rafal Gadowski

Rafal Gadowski

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

€1,100

Painting, White noise, Julie Panch

Julie Panch

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

€1,500

Painting, Still Life, Felicita Frai

Felicita Frai

Painting . 38.5 x 44 x 1 cm Painting . 15.2 x 17.3 x 0.4 inch

€3,400

Painting, Fleurs n°2, Georges Darel

Georges Darel

Painting . 46 x 33 x 1 cm Painting . 18.1 x 13 x 0.4 inch

€887

Painting, Bouquet, Taro Takikawa

Taro Takikawa

Painting . 35 x 20.5 x 2 cm Painting . 13.8 x 8.1 x 0.8 inch

€1,355

Painting, Country Bread, Enzo Montana

Enzo Montana

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

€1,800

Painting, Jessie, Ksana Krasá

Ksana Krasá

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

€2,300

Painting, Duo, Alain Géneau

Duo

Alain Géneau

Painting . 27 x 35 x 2 cm Painting . 10.6 x 13.8 x 0.8 inch

€2,900

Painting, Yellow laces, Ihar Sviancicki

Ihar Sviancicki

Painting . 35 x 45 x 2 cm Painting . 13.8 x 17.7 x 0.8 inch

€1,400

Painting, Fleurs, Gian Rodolfo D'Accardi

Gian Rodolfo D'Accardi

Painting . 49 x 34.5 x 0.5 cm Painting . 19.3 x 13.6 x 0.2 inch

€1,084

Painting, Still Life, Tino Stefanoni

Tino Stefanoni

Painting . 29.5 x 39.5 x 1 cm Painting . 11.6 x 15.6 x 0.4 inch

€22,000

Painting, Fragile Leap, Yuko Montgomery

Yuko Montgomery

Painting . 40.9 x 40.9 x 2 cm Painting . 16.1 x 16.1 x 0.8 inch

€1,125

Painting, The Kiss, Tom Furey

Tom Furey

Painting . 22.9 x 30.5 x 0.8 cm Painting . 9 x 12 x 0.3 inch

€1,417

Painting, Désert III, Pascal Perrin

Pascal Perrin

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

€1,500

Painting, Black Vase II, Justyna Kuklo

Justyna Kuklo

Painting . 41 x 33 x 3 cm Painting . 16.1 x 13 x 1.2 inch

€1,460

Painting, China Asters, Alla Vitta

Alla Vitta

Painting . 36 x 27 x 2 cm Painting . 14.2 x 10.6 x 0.8 inch

€1,620

Painting, Tropical, Sergio Ceccotti

Sergio Ceccotti

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

€2,800

Painting, Elmo, Ksana Krasá

Ksana Krasá

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

€2,300

Painting, The Pewter Vase, Robert LeMar

Robert LeMar

Painting . 40.6 x 50.8 x 2.5 cm Painting . 16 x 20 x 1 inch

€1,015

Painting, Juicy Cut, Gevorg Sinanyan

Gevorg Sinanyan

Painting . 24 x 30 x 0.3 cm Painting . 9.4 x 11.8 x 0.1 inch

€823

Painting, Still Life, Park Yeon Kyung

Park Yeon Kyung

Painting . 22 x 27 x 3 cm Painting . 8.7 x 10.6 x 1.2 inch

€700

Painting, Flowers 2, Helder Batista

Helder Batista

Painting . 48 x 38 x 1 cm Painting . 18.9 x 15 x 0.4 inch

€1,250

Painting, Yellow light, Galya Popova

Galya Popova

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

€1,450

Painting, Fleurs, Percival Pernet

Percival Pernet

Painting . 33.5 x 44.5 x 0.2 cm Painting . 13.2 x 17.5 x 0.1 inch

€937