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, Relax, Jérôme Mesnager

Jérôme Mesnager

Painting . 29.5 x 20 x 2 cm Painting . 11.6 x 7.9 x 0.8 inch

€750

Painting, Night lights, Viktor Gutsul

Viktor Gutsul

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

€269

Painting, Changes, Jana & JS

Jana & JS

Painting . 45 x 30 x 2 cm Painting . 17.7 x 11.8 x 0.8 inch

€1,500

Painting, Her path, Carlos Diaz

Carlos Diaz

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

€1,950

Fine Art Drawings, Harlequin, Alfredo Edel

Alfredo Edel

Fine Art Drawings . 43.5 x 23 x 0.1 cm Fine Art Drawings . 17.1 x 9.1 x 0 inch

€2,000

Painting, Nature, Michelle Gialanze

Michelle Gialanze

Painting . 30 x 20 x 0.1 cm Painting . 11.8 x 7.9 x 0 inch

€1,300

Sculpture, Inclusion au pinceau, Arman

Arman

Sculpture . 27 x 15 x 4 cm Sculpture . 10.6 x 5.9 x 1.6 inch

€6,500

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

€994

Print, Still Life, Gino Severini

Gino Severini

Print . 48.5 x 35.2 x 0.1 cm Print . 19.1 x 13.9 x 0 inch

€1,600

Painting, La baigneuse, Oak Oak

Oak Oak

Painting . 40 x 40 x 6 cm Painting . 15.7 x 15.7 x 2.4 inch

€1,400

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

Sculpture, Dear Study, Ron Zohar

Ron Zohar

Sculpture . 40 x 30 x 25 cm Sculpture . 15.7 x 11.8 x 9.8 inch

€3,200 €2,880

Fine Art Drawings, Body studies, Dora Maar

Dora Maar

Fine Art Drawings . 42 x 36 x 1 cm Fine Art Drawings . 16.5 x 14.2 x 0.4 inch

€3,000

Sculpture, Royale, Matthew Rose

Matthew Rose

Sculpture . 33 x 15 x 6 cm Sculpture . 13 x 5.9 x 2.4 inch

€1,500

Print, Flora, Irena Aizen

Irena Aizen

Print . 50 x 48 x 2.5 cm Print . 19.7 x 18.9 x 1 inch

€1,160

Sculpture, Giano, Massimiliano Pelletti

Massimiliano Pelletti

Sculpture . 40 x 20 x 34 cm Sculpture . 15.7 x 7.9 x 13.4 inch

€42,000

Sculpture, Ann 03 24 02.23, Yves Tilly

Yves Tilly

Sculpture . 33 x 14 x 8 cm Sculpture . 13 x 5.5 x 3.1 inch

€1,270

Painting, Fears, Elene Melikidze

Elene Melikidze

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

€950

Sculpture, Compact Maradona, Gameon

Gameon

Sculpture . 33 x 33 x 4 cm Sculpture . 13 x 13 x 1.6 inch

€1,100

Painting, Velvet Silence, Dawid Musielak

Dawid Musielak

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

€399 €360

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

€1,032

Fine Art Drawings, Prosper, Dominique Pourchet

Dominique Pourchet

Fine Art Drawings . 40 x 30 x 0.1 cm Fine Art Drawings . 15.7 x 11.8 x 0 inch

€195

Sculpture, La Tendresse, Nina Khemchyan

Nina Khemchyan

Sculpture . 36 x 36 x 36 cm Sculpture . 14.2 x 14.2 x 14.2 inch

€7,300

Painting, Jeune lion, Sylvie Ajacques

Sylvie Ajacques

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

€2,300

Painting, Loves, Slasky

Slasky

Painting . 27 x 23 x 0.5 cm Painting . 10.6 x 9.1 x 0.2 inch

€1,290

Design, Reine, Milcheva Emilia

Milcheva Emilia

Design . 48 x 18 x 17 cm Design . 18.9 x 7.1 x 6.7 inch

€1,000

Painting, Pain, Notseig

Notseig

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

€1,500

Painting, Untitled, Adam Sabhan

Adam Sabhan

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

€1,500

Painting, Ballerine, Roger Worms

Roger Worms

Painting . 33 x 24 x 2 cm Painting . 13 x 9.4 x 0.8 inch

€500

Photography, TW-Nude, Jean-Marie Guyaux

Jean-Marie Guyaux

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

€800

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