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, Visages, Pierre Henry

Pierre Henry

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

€1,016

Painting, Fleurs n°2, Georges Darel

Georges Darel

Painting . 46 x 33 x 1 cm Painting . 18.1 x 13 x 0.4 inch

€886

Painting, Avec le temps, My man, Mihoub

Mihoub

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

€1,400

Painting, Chameleon, Craig Moran

Craig Moran

Painting . 35.6 x 45.7 x 2.5 cm Painting . 14 x 18 x 1 inch

€982

Painting, Brou, Giuseppe Amadio

Giuseppe Amadio

Painting . 50 x 50 x 1.5 cm Painting . 19.7 x 19.7 x 0.6 inch

€1,400

Painting, Ohne Titel, Gerd Kanz

Gerd Kanz

Painting . 24 x 30 x 3.5 cm Painting . 9.4 x 11.8 x 1.4 inch

€800

Painting, Lisa, Xavi Figueras

Xavi Figueras

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

€1,000

Painting, Beach day, Ivo Petrov

Ivo Petrov

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

€950

Painting, A Rainy Night, Vahe Bagumyan

Vahe Bagumyan

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

€294 €250

Painting, Longue vue, Alain Rothstein

Alain Rothstein

Painting . 40 x 38 x 3 cm Painting . 15.7 x 15 x 1.2 inch

€1,500

Painting, Lou, Laurence Chouzenoux

Lou

Laurence Chouzenoux

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

€1,800

Painting, The far shores, Paul B

Paul B

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

€997

Painting, Donut, Ian Bertolucci

Ian Bertolucci

Painting . 40 x 40 cm Painting . 15.75 x 15.75 inch

€1,060

Painting, Waiting, Eva Dimitrova

Eva Dimitrova

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

€850

Painting, Wave, Lusie Schellenberg

Lusie Schellenberg

Painting . 40 x 50 x 1 cm Painting . 15.7 x 19.7 x 0.4 inch

€918

Painting, Bouquet, Taro Takikawa

Taro Takikawa

Painting . 35 x 20.5 x 2 cm Painting . 13.8 x 8.1 x 0.8 inch

€1,355

Painting, Nen, Alicia Grau

Nen

Alicia Grau

Painting . 33 x 44 x 2 cm Painting . 13 x 17.3 x 0.8 inch

€900

Painting, Presence, Liz Gartz

Liz Gartz

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

€1,200 €1,080

Painting, Désert IV, Pascal Perrin

Pascal Perrin

Painting . 30 x 45 x 3 cm Painting . 11.8 x 17.7 x 1.2 inch

€2,000

Painting, Country Bread, Enzo Montana

Enzo Montana

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

€1,800

Painting, The Drummer, Vahe Bagumyan

Vahe Bagumyan

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

€275

Painting, Mother, Malgorzata Limon

Malgorzata Limon

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

€1,500

Painting, Apollo, Luka Bartoli

Luka Bartoli

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

€1,400

Painting, P075, Eric Cruikshank

Eric Cruikshank

Painting . 36 x 29 x 0.2 cm Painting . 14.2 x 11.4 x 0.1 inch

€1,027

Painting, Fears, Elene Melikidze

Elene Melikidze

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

€950

Painting, Apparences, Shank Arte

Shank Arte

Painting . 35 x 45 x 2 cm Painting . 13.8 x 17.7 x 0.8 inch

€1,360

Painting, In vitro, Thierry Bronchart

Thierry Bronchart

Painting . 46 x 33 x 2 cm Painting . 18.1 x 13 x 0.8 inch

€1,200

Painting, Grow Up, Angelo Pioppo

Angelo Pioppo

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

€900

Painting, Tui, Irina Sazonova

Tui

Irina Sazonova

Painting . 50 x 50 x 3.5 cm Painting . 19.7 x 19.7 x 1.4 inch

€1,377

Painting, St. Petersburg, Julie Panch

Julie Panch

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

€800

Painting, La Dolce, Richard Poumelin

Richard Poumelin

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

€1,150

Painting, Red bird, Galya Popova

Galya Popova

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

€960

Painting, Boat for Hire, Luis Morris

Luis Morris

Painting . 20 x 28 x 2 cm Painting . 7.9 x 11 x 0.8 inch

€664

Painting, Padua, August Von Siegen

August Von Siegen

Painting . 18.8 x 28.8 x 2 cm Painting . 7.4 x 11.3 x 0.8 inch

€1,028

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