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, Equinox, Nef

Nef

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

€1,700 €1,530

Sculpture, Vega Mir, Victor Vasarely

Victor Vasarely

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

€19,000

Painting, Frente a ti, Laura Vaillant

Laura Vaillant

Painting . 42 x 30 x 1 cm Painting . 16.5 x 11.8 x 0.4 inch

€1,000

Photography, Foot de rue, Uwe Ommer

Uwe Ommer

Photography . 40 x 48 x 0.1 cm Photography . 15.7 x 18.9 x 0 inch

€990

Photography, Le Boudoir, D-A Woisard

D-A Woisard

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

€800

Photography, Le plongeon, Franck Pourcel

Franck Pourcel

Photography . 24 x 30 cm Photography . 9.4 x 11.8 inch

€500

Photography, Alain Delon, Jean-Pierre Fizet

Jean-Pierre Fizet

Photography . 45.5 x 33.5 x 1 cm Photography . 17.9 x 13.2 x 0.4 inch

€1,900

Print, Figue, André Masson

André Masson

Print . 26 x 19 x 0.1 cm Print . 10.2 x 7.5 x 0 inch

€800

Photography, Next to you, Rodrigo

Rodrigo

Photography . 48.7 x 38.9 x 0.1 cm Photography . 19.2 x 15.3 x 0 inch

€1,299 €1,170

Photography, Simiana, Francesco Mussida

Francesco Mussida

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

€890

Photography, Mostar Bridge, Ludovic Careme

Ludovic Careme

Photography . 40 x 40 x 0.1 cm Photography . 15.7 x 15.7 x 0 inch

€1,350

Photography, Men Working, Ken Heyman

Ken Heyman

Photography . 27.9 x 35.6 x 1.3 cm Photography . 11 x 14 x 0.5 inch

€4,338

Photography, Family, Ali Buhamad

Ali Buhamad

Photography . 40 x 30 x 5 cm Photography . 15.7 x 11.8 x 2 inch

€1,000

Photography, La Dispute, D-A Woisard

D-A Woisard

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

€800

Photography, Tracks II, Bruno Charoy

Bruno Charoy

Photography . 40 x 40 x 0.1 cm Photography . 15.7 x 15.7 x 0 inch

€800

Photography, City Range #52, Petr Strnad

Petr Strnad

Photography . 40 x 30 x 0.1 cm Photography . 15.7 x 11.8 x 0 inch

€320

Photography, Totem, Coralie Honnorat

Coralie Honnorat

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

€200

Photography, J'arrive chez moi, Marick

Marick

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

€400

Photography, Galleon, Monica Denevan

Monica Denevan

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

€882

Photography, Pesadumbre, Martí Sala

Martí Sala

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

€900

Photography, Children’s, Bridgeman

Bridgeman

Photography . 30 x 24 x 0.1 cm Photography . 11.8 x 9.4 x 0 inch

€240

Photography, Marc Chagall, Denise Colomb

Denise Colomb

Photography . 29 x 24 x 1 cm Photography . 11.4 x 9.4 x 0.4 inch

€990

Photography, Surreal Cemetery, Ken Heyman

Ken Heyman

Photography . 27.9 x 35.6 x 1.3 cm Photography . 11 x 14 x 0.5 inch

€4,338

Photography, Madonna, Mick Rock

Mick Rock

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

€1,975

Photography, Rue Mouffetard, Uwe Ommer

Uwe Ommer

Photography . 50.8 x 40.6 x 0.3 cm Photography . 20 x 16 x 0.1 inch

€1,265

Print, Faces 1 & 2, Hush

Hush

Print . 30 x 46 cm Print . 11.8 x 18.1 inch

€845

Photography, L'Arbre flamme, Sophie Mabille

Sophie Mabille

Photography . 30.5 x 46 x 0.1 cm Photography . 12 x 18.1 x 0 inch

€850