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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Photography, Traces, India, Hervé All

Hervé All

Photography . 28 x 18.63 cm Photography . 11 x 7.3 inch

€200

Photography, Mirage, India, Hervé All

Hervé All

Photography . 18.63 x 28 cm Photography . 7.3 x 11 inch

€200

Photography, Flying away, David Tesinsky

David Tesinsky

Photography . 18.67 x 28 cm Photography . 7.4 x 11 inch

€250

Painting, Urbain 8, Nathalie Guerre

Nathalie Guerre

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

€150

Photography, Sans titre, Philip Bernard

Philip Bernard

Photography . 17 x 38 x 0.1 cm Photography . 6.7 x 15 x 0 inch

€540

Design, Coi Wood Raw oak, Un'common

Un'common

Design . 42 x 32 x 32 cm Design . 16.5 x 12.6 x 12.6 inch

€600

Painting, Paysage, Anton

Anton

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

€250

Photography, Cambodge, Stanislas Liban

Stanislas Liban

Photography . 40 x 30 cm Photography . 15.7 x 11.8 inch

€400

Photography, Hidden Katherine, Clotilde.MJ

Clotilde.MJ

Photography . 30 x 40 x 0.3 cm Photography . 11.8 x 15.7 x 0.1 inch

€440

Fine Art Drawings, Self-Portrait 20.127, Arthur Hent

Arthur Hent

Fine Art Drawings . 29.7 x 21 x 0.2 cm Fine Art Drawings . 11.7 x 8.3 x 0.1 inch

€150

Fine Art Drawings, Les inséparables, Elips

Elips

Fine Art Drawings . 29.7 x 42 x 0.3 cm Fine Art Drawings . 11.7 x 16.5 x 0.1 inch

€470

Photography, La Rotonde, Christian Bruneau

Christian Bruneau

Photography . 24 x 36 x 0.5 cm Photography . 9.4 x 14.2 x 0.2 inch

€60

Painting, Homeland, Anna Krtshatsyan

Anna Krtshatsyan

Painting . 24 x 26 x 0.5 cm Painting . 9.4 x 10.2 x 0.2 inch

€350

Photography, Château, Christian Bruneau

Christian Bruneau

Photography . 24 x 36 x 0.5 cm Photography . 9.4 x 14.2 x 0.2 inch

€60

Photography, Untitled, KetoMa

KetoMa

Photography . 42 x 29.7 x 0.1 cm Photography . 16.5 x 11.7 x 0 inch

€98

Photography, Untitled, KetoMa

KetoMa

Photography . 29.7 x 42 x 0.1 cm Photography . 11.7 x 16.5 x 0 inch

€98

Print, Villa Dolores, Liam Cobb

Liam Cobb

Print . 42 x 29.7 cm Print . 16.5 x 11.7 inch

€50

Fine Art Drawings, Honfleur, Jean Le Gac

Jean Le Gac

Fine Art Drawings . 29.5 x 38 cm Fine Art Drawings . 11.6 x 15 inch

€1,050

Photography, Night Pool, Heike Bohnstengel

Heike Bohnstengel

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

€350

Fine Art Drawings, Untitled, Robert Delval

Robert Delval

Fine Art Drawings . 50.8 x 40.6 x 2.5 cm Fine Art Drawings . 20 x 16 x 1 inch

€112

Photography, Sanstitre, Julien Drogoul

Julien Drogoul

Photography . 45 x 30 x 0.3 cm Photography . 17.7 x 11.8 x 0.1 inch

€250

Photography, TV show, Ifig

Ifig

Photography . 42 x 42 cm Photography . 16.5 x 16.5 inch

€900

Photography, Sans 4, Lucien Hervé

Lucien Hervé

Photography . 40 x 30 cm Photography . 15.7 x 11.8 inch

€3,000

Photography, Abandon, Maximilien Diaz

Maximilien Diaz

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

€800

Photography, La chambre, Joss Uñac

Joss Uñac

Photography . 30 x 45 cm Photography . 11.8 x 17.7 inch

€490

Photography, Sophott, Hervé All

Hervé All

Photography . 18.63 x 28 cm Photography . 7.3 x 11 inch

€200

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