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, Freedom, Sagrasse

Sagrasse

Sculpture . 26 x 24 x 10 cm Sculpture . 10.2 x 9.4 x 3.9 inch

€235 €224

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

Print, What Next, JonOne

JonOne

Print . 41 x 33 cm Print . 16.1 x 13 inch

€490

Painting, The rest of us 6, Luca Brandi

Luca Brandi

Painting . 38.1 x 27.9 x 0.3 cm Painting . 15 x 11 x 0.1 inch

€732

Painting, Black water, Galya Popova

Galya Popova

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

€1,600

Sculpture, Life is Soft, Sagrasse

Sagrasse

Sculpture . 32 x 15.5 x 13 cm Sculpture . 12.6 x 6.1 x 5.1 inch

€240

Sculpture, Evolution, Milko Dobrev

Milko Dobrev

Sculpture . 35.5 x 13.5 x 6 cm Sculpture . 14 x 5.3 x 2.4 inch

€1,450

Print, Lory, James Jean

James Jean

Print . 35.6 x 28 x 0.2 cm Print . 14 x 11 x 0.1 inch

€2,000

Sculpture, Companion - Set of 6, Kaws

Kaws

Sculpture . 28 x 12.7 x 7.6 cm Sculpture . 11 x 5 x 3 inch

€7,228

Sculpture, Mystica, Sagrasse

Sagrasse

Sculpture . 30 x 17 x 20 cm Sculpture . 11.8 x 6.7 x 7.9 inch

€500

Painting, Hoian, Seaty

Seaty

Painting . 50 x 32 x 3 cm Painting . 19.7 x 12.6 x 1.2 inch

€4,950

Painting, Sans Titre 1, Helder Batista

Helder Batista

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

€1,250

Painting, Plan Metro Paris, Nasty

Nasty

Painting . 37.5 x 37.5 x 0.1 cm Painting . 14.8 x 14.8 x 0 inch

€1,200

Painting, Gavinana, Luigi Iona

Luigi Iona

Painting . 50 x 35 x 0.1 cm Painting . 19.7 x 13.8 x 0 inch

€150

Painting, Day dream II, Fabrice Leito

Fabrice Leito

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

€1,100

Painting, Chat, C215

C215

Painting . 29 x 21 x 0.1 cm Painting . 11.4 x 8.3 x 0 inch

€1,390

Sculpture, Azur, Jérémy Ferreira

Jérémy Ferreira

Sculpture . 50 x 10 x 10 cm Sculpture . 19.7 x 3.9 x 3.9 inch

€1,500

Sculpture, Love, Marc De Corte

Marc De Corte

Sculpture . 11 x 36 x 7.5 cm Sculpture . 4.3 x 14.2 x 3 inch

€1,950

Painting, Spicy Yoda, C215

C215

Painting . 32 x 22.5 x 0.2 cm Painting . 12.6 x 8.9 x 0.1 inch

€1,680

Print, Sans-titre, Antoni Tapies

Antoni Tapies

Print . 25.2 x 35.2 x 0.1 cm Print . 9.9 x 13.9 x 0 inch

€850

Sculpture, Paint Splash Jungle, Naor

Naor

Sculpture . 33 x 15 x 8 cm Sculpture . 13 x 5.9 x 3.1 inch

€990

Painting, Map Paris, Nasty

Nasty

Painting . 37 x 37 x 0.1 cm Painting . 14.6 x 14.6 x 0 inch

€1,000

Design, Astro Boy, Kaws

Kaws

Design . 37.5 x 15.2 x 11.4 cm Design . 14.8 x 6 x 4.5 inch

€4,860

Painting, Ocres Rouges, Eurgal

Eurgal

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

€1,200

Photography, Illusion, Tanguy Mendrisse

Tanguy Mendrisse

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

€160

Painting, Orchid, Barry Wilson

Barry Wilson

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

€3,012

Painting, Open Daydreams, Mariah Birsak

Mariah Birsak

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

€800 €752

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