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, Jeunes filles, Jean Ducommun

Jean Ducommun

Painting . 46.5 x 33 x 2 cm Painting . 18.3 x 13 x 0.8 inch

€1,761

Painting, Wilder, Gert Wiberg Ramsing

Gert Wiberg Ramsing

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

€900

Painting, Galop, Ahmed Shahabuddin

Ahmed Shahabuddin

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

€5,500

Painting, Normandy 2, Sophie Dumont

Sophie Dumont

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

€990

Painting, Barbie, Lizaso

Lizaso

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

€3,500

Painting, Bamboo Forest, Lexi Caiqin

Lexi Caiqin

Painting . 40 x 50 x 3 cm Painting . 15.7 x 19.7 x 1.2 inch

€5,700

Painting, My Stomach, Keziat

Keziat

Painting . 40 x 40 x 0.1 cm Painting . 15.7 x 15.7 x 0 inch

€700

Painting, Sleepy, La Ba Quan

La Ba Quan

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

€1,643

Painting, Girlhood, Natasha Joseph

Natasha Joseph

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

€1,451

Painting, Trick, Galya Popova

Galya Popova

Painting . 30 x 30 cm Painting . 11.8 x 11.8 inch

€960

Painting, Rose - 997, Aykaz Arzumanyan

Aykaz Arzumanyan

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

€860

Painting, Magranes, Josep Brugalla

Josep Brugalla

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

€489

Painting, Winter, Dostena Lavergne

Dostena Lavergne

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

€1,550

Painting, Sans titre I, Yu Fu

Yu Fu

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

€800

Painting, With Ease, David Hinchliffe

David Hinchliffe

Painting . 50 x 40 x 4 cm Painting . 19.7 x 15.7 x 1.6 inch

€1,149

Painting, Game Plan, Debbie Pacheco

Debbie Pacheco

Painting . 50.8 x 40.6 x 3.8 cm Painting . 20 x 16 x 1.5 inch

€904

Painting, Cityscape #7, Darren Thompson

Darren Thompson

Painting . 30.5 x 40.6 x 5.1 cm Painting . 12 x 16 x 2 inch

€1,095

Painting, Brou, Giuseppe Amadio

Giuseppe Amadio

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

€1,400

Painting, Be Shrewd, Young Bin Choi

Young Bin Choi

Painting . 45 x 37.5 cm Painting . 17.7 x 14.8 inch

€1,000

Painting, Basalt Caves_02, Zsolt Bukta

Zsolt Bukta

Painting . 21 x 30 x 3 cm Painting . 8.3 x 11.8 x 1.2 inch

€850

Painting, Sans titre, Louis Cane

Louis Cane

Painting . 45 x 50 x 0.2 cm Painting . 17.7 x 19.7 x 0.1 inch

€4,000

Painting, Timeless tides, Paul B

Paul B

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

€998

Painting, Butterfly II, Liva Pakalne

Liva Pakalne

Painting . 50 x 50 x 8 cm Painting . 19.7 x 19.7 x 3.1 inch

€2,000

Painting, Port, Philippe Bonnet

Philippe Bonnet

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

€1,377

Painting, Camargue, Georges Girard

Georges Girard

Painting . 22 x 35 x 1 cm Painting . 8.7 x 13.8 x 0.4 inch

€1,004

Painting, Capucines, Maurice Asselin

Maurice Asselin

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

€982

Painting, Fleur de glace, L. Mull

L. Mull

Painting . 38 x 50 x 2 cm Painting . 15 x 19.7 x 0.8 inch

€1,016

Painting, Lungo il Ticino, Luigi Comolli

Luigi Comolli

Painting . 39.5 x 49.7 x 0.5 cm Painting . 15.6 x 19.6 x 0.2 inch

€993

Painting, Paysage fleuri, S. M.

S. M.

Painting . 26.5 x 41 x 0.5 cm Painting . 10.4 x 16.1 x 0.2 inch

€971

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