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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Sculpture, Apostrophe, Pinto

Pinto

Sculpture . 50 x 24 x 15 cm Sculpture . 19.7 x 9.4 x 5.9 inch

€1,600

Painting, Untitled, Hayduk Smbatyan

Hayduk Smbatyan

Painting . 29.5 x 20 x 1 cm Painting . 11.6 x 7.9 x 0.4 inch

€250

Sculpture, Lightness 1, Luis Rea

Luis Rea

Sculpture . 39 x 25 x 12 cm Sculpture . 15.4 x 9.8 x 4.7 inch

€3,990

Painting, Rebirth, Rosa Cruz

Rosa Cruz

Painting . 30 x 22 x 0.3 cm Painting . 11.8 x 8.7 x 0.1 inch

€600

Sculpture, Eclair, Line Bourdoiseau

Line Bourdoiseau

Sculpture . 27 x 15 x 10 cm Sculpture . 10.6 x 5.9 x 3.9 inch

€500

Painting, Etiuda, Jan Aniserowicz

Jan Aniserowicz

Painting . 41 x 31 x 2 cm Painting . 16.1 x 12.2 x 0.8 inch

€550

Painting, There in silence, Vild Art

Vild Art

Painting . 40 x 30 x 1.5 cm Painting . 15.7 x 11.8 x 0.6 inch

€1,050

Painting, Street art, Mr Garcia

Mr Garcia

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

€300 €270

Painting, N°72, Diane Hubesch

Diane Hubesch

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

€2,000

Painting, Spaziergang, Mila Veljac'a

Mila Veljac'a

Painting . 48 x 36 x 0.1 cm Painting . 18.9 x 14.2 x 0 inch

€850

Sculpture, Tambor, Fabio Santori

Fabio Santori

Sculpture . 33 x 15.5 x 63 cm Sculpture . 13 x 6.1 x 24.8 inch

€1,200

Print, Uranie 1, Georges Braque

Georges Braque

Print . 33 x 47 x 1 cm Print . 13 x 18.5 x 0.4 inch

€2,500

Fine Art Drawings, Untitled, Freddy Szmull

Freddy Szmull

Fine Art Drawings . 24 x 34 x 0.1 cm Fine Art Drawings . 9.4 x 13.4 x 0 inch

€6,000

Painting, Fleur 18, Xiu

Xiu

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

€600

Sculpture, Doppio, Manon Oller

Manon Oller

Sculpture . 49 x 25 x 17 cm Sculpture . 19.3 x 9.8 x 6.7 inch

€750

Painting, Flux, Willy Chupa

Willy Chupa

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

€800

Painting, Hold Tight, Ryan Crotty

Ryan Crotty

Painting . 35 x 27.5 x 2 cm Painting . 13.8 x 10.8 x 0.8 inch

€2,880

Painting, Vent du Nord, Âme Sauvage

Âme Sauvage

Painting . 30 x 24 x 2.2 cm Painting . 11.8 x 9.4 x 0.9 inch

€85

Print, Prayer, Xiaoyang Galas

Xiaoyang Galas

Print . 50 x 50 x 4.1 cm Print . 19.7 x 19.7 x 1.6 inch

€443

Print, Untitlede, Speedy Graphito

Speedy Graphito

Print . 50 x 50 x 0.1 cm Print . 19.7 x 19.7 x 0 inch

€370

Painting, Into The Light, Fusako Ekuni

Fusako Ekuni

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

€1,000

Photography, Mid Point 3, Tenesh Webber

Tenesh Webber

Photography . 28 x 28 cm Photography . 11 x 11 inch

€2,409

Painting, Kumo 10, Janise Yntema

Janise Yntema

Painting . 50 x 50 x 0.1 cm Painting . 19.7 x 19.7 x 0 inch

€2,048

Fine Art Drawings, Silent Drift, KatriTa

KatriTa

Fine Art Drawings . 21 x 29.7 x 0.1 cm Fine Art Drawings . 8.3 x 11.7 x 0 inch

€271

Painting, Inner Turmoil, Asma Namouji

Asma Namouji

Painting . 50 x 50 x 5 cm Painting . 19.7 x 19.7 x 2 inch

€900

Sculpture, Boule 11, Jean-Luc Parant

Jean-Luc Parant

Sculpture . 37 x 33 x 10 cm Sculpture . 14.6 x 13 x 3.9 inch

€3,000

Painting, UP23_70, Matt Neuman

Matt Neuman

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

€2,100

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