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, 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, Icône II, Cécile Girard

Cécile Girard

Painting . 43 x 41 x 1 cm Painting . 16.9 x 16.1 x 0.4 inch

€800 €720

Print, Sans titre, Henri Goetz

Henri Goetz

Print . 28.5 x 24 x 0.05 cm Print . 11.2 x 9.4 x 0 inch

€450

Painting, Fleur III, Yong Chen

Yong Chen

Painting . 40 x 30 x 1 cm Painting . 15.7 x 11.8 x 0.4 inch

€500

Painting, Avalokitesvara, Taiyu Zhou

Taiyu Zhou

Painting . 49 x 49 x 1 cm Painting . 19.3 x 19.3 x 0.4 inch

€800

Painting, Sans titre 4, Rong Su

Rong Su

Painting . 40 x 30 x 4 cm Painting . 15.7 x 11.8 x 1.6 inch

€800

Fine Art Drawings, All Shook Up, Terrece Beesley

Terrece Beesley

Fine Art Drawings . 45.7 x 40.6 x 1.3 cm Fine Art Drawings . 18 x 16 x 0.5 inch

€1,638

Painting, Mesdemoiselles, Kaige Yang

Kaige Yang

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

€2,500

Painting, Cascade de roses, Navema

Navema

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

€500

Painting, Incendie, Sandrine Hirson

Sandrine Hirson

Painting . 40 x 40 x 1.8 cm Painting . 15.7 x 15.7 x 0.7 inch

€440 €374

Painting, Ombres, Âme Sauvage

Âme Sauvage

Painting . 40 x 40 x 2.4 cm Painting . 15.7 x 15.7 x 0.9 inch

€320

Painting, Extra, Jazzu

Jazzu

Painting . 42 x 29.7 x 0.01 cm Painting . 16.5 x 11.7 x 0 inch

€650

Painting, Loading, Olena Kishkurno

Olena Kishkurno

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

€800

Painting, Cappello Azzurro, Luigi Iona

Luigi Iona

Painting . 36 x 30 x 0.2 cm Painting . 14.2 x 11.8 x 0.1 inch

€195

Painting, Paysages 801, Xiu

Xiu

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

€700

Painting, Mecanik dark, Tarek

Tarek

Painting . 41 x 33 x 2 cm Painting . 16.1 x 13 x 0.8 inch

€550

Painting, OSONS LA VIE, Sophie Petetin

Sophie Petetin

Painting . 26 x 36 x 2 cm Painting . 10.2 x 14.2 x 0.8 inch

€290

Painting, Unique, Isabelle Hirtzig

Isabelle Hirtzig

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

€175

Painting, Sans titre I, Olivier Bernex

Olivier Bernex

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

€500

Painting, Pop Design N°1/20, Lydi

Lydi

Painting . 30 x 40 x 1 cm Painting . 11.8 x 15.7 x 0.4 inch

€190 €171

Painting, D2502, Laura Soulier

Laura Soulier

Painting . 38 x 46 x 2 cm Painting . 15 x 18.1 x 0.8 inch

€900

Print, Gonflé, ce Koons !, Ske

Ske

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

€175

Print, Street Gaffeur, Ske

Ske

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

€175

Painting, UD-I-, JaveL Art

JaveL Art

Painting . 30 x 30 x 4 cm Painting . 11.8 x 11.8 x 1.6 inch

€570

Painting, Wilderness, Tracy Thomas

Tracy Thomas

Painting . 23 x 42.5 x 3 cm Painting . 9.1 x 16.7 x 1.2 inch

€1,200

Painting, Conserve pop, Shokkobo Popart

Shokkobo Popart

Painting . 50 x 50 x 3.4 cm Painting . 19.7 x 19.7 x 1.3 inch

€895 €806

Print, The meeting, Mr. Kami

Mr. Kami

Print . 33 x 48.3 x 0.3 cm Print . 13 x 19 x 0.1 inch

€200

Painting, Girls of Summer, Willy B

Willy B

Painting . 20.3 x 30.5 x 0.3 cm Painting . 8 x 12 x 0.1 inch

€1,200

Painting, Red Roses, Micowel

Micowel

Painting . 20.3 x 30.5 x 0.3 cm Painting . 8 x 12 x 0.1 inch

€1,200

Painting, High Sunflower, Lose

Lose

Painting . 20.3 x 30.5 x 0.3 cm Painting . 8 x 12 x 0.1 inch

€1,200

Painting, Impressions, Isabelle Marie

Isabelle Marie

Painting . 35 x 22 x 2 cm Painting . 13.8 x 8.7 x 0.8 inch

€500

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