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, Resist, Almo

Almo

Painting . 34.8 x 24.9 x 0.3 cm Painting . 13.7 x 9.8 x 0.1 inch

€729

Sculpture, Harmony, Lili P

Lili P

Sculpture . 48 x 48 x 17 cm Sculpture . 18.9 x 18.9 x 6.7 inch

€4,975

Sculpture, Entre Nous, Rémy Demestre

Rémy Demestre

Sculpture . 39.5 x 34.5 x 17 cm Sculpture . 15.6 x 13.6 x 6.7 inch

€400

Painting, No Title, Dean Tavoularis

Dean Tavoularis

Painting . 46 x 38 x 3 cm Painting . 18.1 x 15 x 1.2 inch

€5,000

Painting, Cube 24, Lucio Forte

Lucio Forte

Painting . 24 x 33 x 0.1 cm Painting . 9.4 x 13 x 0 inch

€130

Painting, Hand lines, Isabelle Hirtzig

Isabelle Hirtzig

Painting . 42 x 29.7 x 0.2 cm Painting . 16.5 x 11.7 x 0.1 inch

€115

Painting, Messenger, Dyala Khodary

Dyala Khodary

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

€1,200

Painting, City HS, Brian Elwell

Brian Elwell

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

€785

Painting, Khâos 5, Valérie Lamarre

Valérie Lamarre

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

€540

Sculpture, Winter Harmony, Lili P

Lili P

Sculpture . 36 x 36 x 14 cm Sculpture . 14.2 x 14.2 x 5.5 inch

€5,434

Sculpture, Ensemble, Delphine Brabant

Delphine Brabant

Sculpture . 41 x 32 x 20 cm Sculpture . 16.1 x 12.6 x 7.9 inch

€3,600

Print, Holiday 5, Kumi Sugaï

Kumi Sugaï

Print . 29.2 x 25.1 cm Print . 11.5 x 9.9 inch

€600

Painting, My Angels, Isabelle Hirtzig

Isabelle Hirtzig

Painting . 24 x 30 x 0.1 cm Painting . 9.4 x 11.8 x 0 inch

€155

Photography, Sans titre 12, Sylva Sylva

Sylva Sylva

Photography . 30 x 20 x 1 cm Photography . 11.8 x 7.9 x 0.4 inch

€260

Fine Art Drawings, Sans titre 9, Barbara Christol

Barbara Christol

Fine Art Drawings . 23 x 31 x 1 cm Fine Art Drawings . 9.1 x 12.2 x 0.4 inch

€650

Painting, Tour Echec, Maud Merouze

Maud Merouze

Painting . 27 x 22 x 2 cm Painting . 10.6 x 8.7 x 0.8 inch

€230

Painting, Title n°350, Agur

Agur

Painting . 32 x 38 x 3 cm Painting . 12.6 x 15 x 1.2 inch

€450

Painting, 020-19, Macyn Bolt

Macyn Bolt

Painting . 24.1 x 34.3 x 0.1 cm Painting . 9.5 x 13.5 x 0 inch

€906

Painting, 018-19, Macyn Bolt

Macyn Bolt

Painting . 24.1 x 34.3 x 0.1 cm Painting . 9.5 x 13.5 x 0 inch

€906

Painting, 08_19, Macyn Bolt

Macyn Bolt

Painting . 24.1 x 34.3 x 0.1 cm Painting . 9.5 x 13.5 x 0 inch

€906

Fine Art Drawings, Untitled, Arnaud GIbersztajn

Arnaud GIbersztajn

Fine Art Drawings . 30 x 23 x 1 cm Fine Art Drawings . 11.8 x 9.1 x 0.4 inch

€450

Painting, Form, Strashevich Alexander

Strashevich Alexander

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

€640

Painting, Mosaïque, Florence Boré

Florence Boré

Painting . 20 x 28 x 0.5 cm Painting . 7.9 x 11 x 0.2 inch

€700

Painting, Enclosed, Dyala Khodary

Dyala Khodary

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

€1,000

Print, Holiday 2, Kumi Sugaï

Kumi Sugaï

Print . 29.2 x 25.1 cm Print . 11.5 x 9.9 inch

€600

Fine Art Drawings, Sans titre 10, Barbara Christol

Barbara Christol

Fine Art Drawings . 23 x 31 x 3 cm Fine Art Drawings . 9.1 x 12.2 x 1.2 inch

€650

Painting, Cube 24 b, Lucio Forte

Lucio Forte

Painting . 26 x 29 x 0.3 cm Painting . 10.2 x 11.4 x 0.1 inch

€100

Sculpture, Geometric 04, Simone De Rosa

Simone De Rosa

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

€280

Sculpture, Geometric 03, Simone De Rosa

Simone De Rosa

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

€270

Sculpture, Blu Corners, Simone De Rosa

Simone De Rosa

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

€270

Painting, Title n°348, Agur

Agur

Painting . 31 x 37 x 3 cm Painting . 12.2 x 14.6 x 1.2 inch

€450

Painting, Title n°347, Agur

Agur

Painting . 31 x 37 x 3 cm Painting . 12.2 x 14.6 x 1.2 inch

€450

Painting, Khâos 6, Valérie Lamarre

Valérie Lamarre

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

€520

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