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, Country Church, Jean Chapin

Jean Chapin

Painting . 27.5 x 22 x 0.4 cm Painting . 10.8 x 8.7 x 0.2 inch

€400

Print, Soviet, Jibé

Jibé

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

€100

Painting, Village I, Xiu

Xiu

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

€600

Painting, Village, Adrien Holy

Adrien Holy

Painting . 26 x 46 x 0.3 cm Painting . 10.2 x 18.1 x 0.1 inch

€1,109

Fine Art Drawings, Landscape, Myriam Bering

Myriam Bering

Fine Art Drawings . 31.5 x 41 x 0.1 cm Fine Art Drawings . 12.4 x 16.1 x 0 inch

€400

Sculpture, Temple, 1/8, Beatrice Bizot

Beatrice Bizot

Sculpture . 30 x 23 x 18 cm Sculpture . 11.8 x 9.1 x 7.1 inch

€2,800

Painting, Three Sheds, Richard Szkutnik

Richard Szkutnik

Painting . 40.6 x 50.8 x 0.5 cm Painting . 16 x 20 x 0.2 inch

€1,400

Fine Art Drawings, Charlatan, Nicola Simbari

Nicola Simbari

Fine Art Drawings . 30 x 23 x 0.1 cm Fine Art Drawings . 11.8 x 9.1 x 0 inch

€600

Painting, Le cocon, Mea Ambrozo

Mea Ambrozo

Painting . 33 x 41 x 1 cm Painting . 13 x 16.1 x 0.4 inch

€1,500

Painting, The Charmer, Grace Diehl

Grace Diehl

Painting . 27.9 x 35.6 x 1.8 cm Painting . 11 x 14 x 0.7 inch

€834

Painting, Train, Tsisia Kiladze

Tsisia Kiladze

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

€800

Painting, Sunset Boulevard, LOg

LOg

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

€750

Painting, Blue House Totem, Michel Tabanou

Michel Tabanou

Painting . 32.5 x 26 x 0.3 cm Painting . 12.8 x 10.25 x 0.1 inch

€800 €600

Painting, Canicule, Sylvie Eudes

Sylvie Eudes

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

€2,400

Painting, Temple lotus. Fiery., AreiRa

AreiRa

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

€1,100

Print, Church, Giovanni Stradone

Giovanni Stradone

Print . 40 x 50 x 0.3 cm Print . 15.7 x 19.7 x 0.1 inch

€200

Painting, Ropas, Josefa Sanz del Amo

Josefa Sanz del Amo

Painting . 50 x 40 x 0.1 cm Painting . 19.7 x 15.7 x 0 inch

€1,800

Painting, Bank Street 2, Nigel Bailey

Nigel Bailey

Painting . 30.4 x 30.4 x 0.3 cm Painting . 12 x 12 x 0.1 inch

€300

Fine Art Drawings, India ink Big Ben, Lucio Forte

Lucio Forte

Fine Art Drawings . 20.7 x 29 x 0.1 cm Fine Art Drawings . 8.1 x 11.4 x 0 inch

€130

Painting, Oxford, Simon Kozhin

Simon Kozhin

Painting . 24 x 30 x 0.3 cm Painting . 9.4 x 11.8 x 0.1 inch

€2,800

Photography, Well Heeled, Arthur Steel

Arthur Steel

Photography . 33 x 41 x 0.01 cm Photography . 13 x 16.1 x 0 inch

€895

Photography, Grande rue, Bogdan Kotewicz

Bogdan Kotewicz

Photography . 50 x 40 x 0.3 cm Photography . 19.7 x 15.7 x 0.1 inch

€820

Print, Athènes, Yves Brayer

Yves Brayer

Print . 28.5 x 32 cm Print . 11.2 x 12.6 inch

€150

Fine Art Drawings, The Nursery, Alla Kechedzhan

Alla Kechedzhan

Fine Art Drawings . 30 x 40 x 0.3 cm Fine Art Drawings . 11.8 x 15.7 x 0.1 inch

€2,800

Sculpture, Estive 1, Grégoire Lavigne

Grégoire Lavigne

Sculpture . 42 x 37 x 34 cm Sculpture . 16.5 x 14.6 x 13.4 inch

€850

Painting, Tower, Simon Kozhin

Simon Kozhin

Painting . 21.6 x 30.7 cm Painting . 8.5 x 12.1 inch

€2,600

Painting, Cloudy Day, Eter Merkviladze

Eter Merkviladze

Painting . 40 x 30 x 3 cm Painting . 15.7 x 11.8 x 1.2 inch

€750

Painting, Solitude, Fabien Gäng

Fabien Gäng

Painting . 40 x 30 x 3 cm Painting . 15.7 x 11.8 x 1.2 inch

€1,562

Photography, Karaoke, Camille Levert

Camille Levert

Photography . 50 x 50 x 7 cm Photography . 19.7 x 19.7 x 2.8 inch

€5,500

Fine Art Drawings, Folie 307, Denis Poughon

Denis Poughon

Fine Art Drawings . 26 x 13 x 1.3 cm Fine Art Drawings . 10.2 x 5.1 x 0.5 inch

€350

Painting, Mikonos, AVEL Muñoz

AVEL Muñoz

Painting . 45 x 38 x 3 cm Painting . 17.7 x 15 x 1.2 inch

€1,000

Fine Art Drawings, Theatrical Scene, Eugene Berman

Eugene Berman

Fine Art Drawings . 25 x 35 x 0.1 cm Fine Art Drawings . 9.8 x 13.8 x 0 inch

€500