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, My Bleu, Karl Lagasse

Karl Lagasse

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

€2,498

Painting, Le sac de ma mère, Ben

Ben

Painting . 41.5 x 35.5 x 11.5 cm Painting . 16.3 x 14 x 4.5 inch

€7,000

Sculpture, Reposando, Rodo Padilla

Rodo Padilla

Sculpture . 30 x 27 x 12 cm Sculpture . 11.8 x 10.6 x 4.7 inch

€3,400

Print, Festival, Fernand Léger

Fernand Léger

Print . 48 x 34 x 0.5 cm Print . 18.9 x 13.4 x 0.2 inch

€800

Print, Félix Azur, C215

C215

Print . 50 x 40 x 0.2 cm Print . 19.7 x 15.7 x 0.1 inch

€800

Painting, Chat aux ballons, M.Chat

M.Chat

Painting . 26.5 x 47.5 x 0.05 cm Painting . 10.4 x 18.7 x 0 inch

€1,450

Painting, Pink Child, Jef Aérosol

Jef Aérosol

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

€2,700

Painting, Arc II No.7, Jeremy Annear

Jeremy Annear

Painting . 35.5 x 25.2 x 0.1 cm Painting . 14 x 9.9 x 0 inch

€1,807

Painting, Sun Day, tizlu

tizlu

Painting . 35 x 25 x 2 cm Painting . 13.8 x 9.8 x 0.8 inch

€1,600 €1,488

Sculpture, Twins, Valérie Hadida

Valérie Hadida

Sculpture . 50 x 20 x 14 cm Sculpture . 19.7 x 7.9 x 5.5 inch

€7,200

Painting, Chanoir x Nasty, Chanoir

Chanoir

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

€3,600

Painting, Paysage chinois 728, Xiu

Xiu

Painting . 50 x 20 x 1 cm Painting . 19.7 x 7.9 x 0.4 inch

€600 €540

Painting, The wise, Jack The Killer

Jack The Killer

Painting . 40 x 30 x 0.2 cm Painting . 15.7 x 11.8 x 0.1 inch

€50

Print, Larmes de Verre, Man Ray

Man Ray

Print . 29.8 x 36.8 cm Print . 11.7 x 14.5 inch

€2,070

Sculpture, Piega del Tempo, Andrea Serra

Andrea Serra

Sculpture . 50 x 37 x 12 cm Sculpture . 19.7 x 14.6 x 4.7 inch

€1,740

Painting, La méditation, Zafi

Zafi

Painting . 49 x 49 x 0.1 cm Painting . 19.3 x 19.3 x 0 inch

€1,450

Painting, Untitled, Taki 183

Taki 183

Painting . 46 x 35.5 x 2 cm Painting . 18.1 x 14 x 0.8 inch

€1,500

Print, Paris verte, M.Chat

M.Chat

Print . 44 x 35 cm Print . 17.3 x 13.8 inch

€350

Painting, I want it all, Dr. Love

Dr. Love

Painting . 40 x 30 x 0.2 cm Painting . 15.7 x 11.8 x 0.1 inch

€50

Sculpture, Hermes Teddy, Naor

Naor

Sculpture . 35 x 30 x 20 cm Sculpture . 13.8 x 11.8 x 7.9 inch

€1,000

Sculpture, Royal Basquiat, PyB

PyB

Sculpture . 31 x 15 x 6 cm Sculpture . 12.2 x 5.9 x 2.4 inch

€260

Sculpture, A bird, Milko Dobrev

Milko Dobrev

Sculpture . 46 x 23 x 7 cm Sculpture . 18.1 x 9.1 x 2.8 inch

€1,700

Print, Art Book, Hom Nguyen

Hom Nguyen

Print . 47.6 x 33.8 cm Print . 18.7 x 13.3 inch

€500

Painting, Otis Redding, Jo Di Bona

Jo Di Bona

Painting . 40 x 30 x 0.01 cm Painting . 15.7 x 11.8 x 0 inch

€1,300

Painting, L'attente, Marta Grassi

Marta Grassi

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

€900

Sculpture, Toro de Oro, Pierre Gimenez

Pierre Gimenez

Sculpture . 44 x 25 x 12 cm Sculpture . 17.3 x 9.8 x 4.7 inch

€2,500

Painting, Entre-deux, Nep-

Nep-

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

€1,450

Sculpture, Mudra, Brigitte De Cesco

Brigitte De Cesco

Sculpture . 10 x 45 x 8 cm Sculpture . 3.9 x 17.7 x 3.1 inch

€1,000

Design, Visage, Pablo Picasso

Pablo Picasso

Design . 31 x 13.7 x 9.2 cm Design . 12.2 x 5.4 x 3.6 inch

€30,000

Painting, Too much cat, BB.Queen

BB.Queen

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

€1,200

Sculpture, Unicorn, Santicri

Santicri

Sculpture . 50 x 34 x 10 cm Sculpture . 19.7 x 13.4 x 3.9 inch

€1,600 €1,520

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