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, Oie sauvage, Benoit Fleury

Benoit Fleury

Sculpture . 37 x 27 x 15 cm Sculpture . 14.6 x 10.6 x 5.9 inch

€6,500

Painting, Hanabi. 21, Sia Aryai

Sia Aryai

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

€945

Sculpture, Box Flowers, David Cintract

David Cintract

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

€1,050

Painting, Respiration, Eu Lee

Eu Lee

Painting . 35 x 27 cm Painting . 13.8 x 10.6 inch

€1,500

Photography, Intervals 2., Petr Strnad

Petr Strnad

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

€320

Painting, Georgia, Saba Dolikashvili

Saba Dolikashvili

Painting . 31 x 26 x 3 cm Painting . 12.2 x 10.2 x 1.2 inch

€900

Fine Art Drawings, L'Otarie, Jean-Louis Toutain

Jean-Louis Toutain

Fine Art Drawings . 28 x 22 x 0.1 cm Fine Art Drawings . 11 x 8.7 x 0 inch

€1,000

Fine Art Drawings, The Cat, Marie-Paulette Lagosse

Marie-Paulette Lagosse

Fine Art Drawings . 26 x 33 x 0.1 cm Fine Art Drawings . 10.2 x 13 x 0 inch

€850

Painting, Bambas, Lluís Bargalló

Lluís Bargalló

Painting . 30 x 50 x 3 cm Painting . 11.8 x 19.7 x 1.2 inch

€1,000

Painting, Axiome, Muriel Charbonnier

Muriel Charbonnier

Painting . 46 x 38 x 2 cm Painting . 18.1 x 15 x 0.8 inch

€960

Painting, Soul Dance, Tatiana Yartseva

Tatiana Yartseva

Painting . 20 x 27 x 2 cm Painting . 7.9 x 10.6 x 0.8 inch

€470

Painting, Le Baiser, Elips

Elips

Painting . 30 x 21 x 0.01 cm Painting . 11.8 x 8.3 x 0 inch

€590

Photography, Units, Eduardo Rezende

Eduardo Rezende

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

€1,350

Sculpture, Maternité 5, Rugieri

Rugieri

Sculpture . 23 x 27 x 20 cm Sculpture . 9.1 x 10.6 x 7.9 inch

€1,900

Sculpture, Rugged Strength, Kamo Aloyan

Kamo Aloyan

Sculpture . 40 x 15 x 10 cm Sculpture . 15.7 x 5.9 x 3.9 inch

€2,430

Print, DeathF451, Death NYC

Death NYC

Print . 45 x 32 x 0.1 cm Print . 17.7 x 12.6 x 0 inch

€199

Sculpture, La nuit, Thalia Dalecky

Thalia Dalecky

Sculpture . 17 x 50 x 50 cm Sculpture . 6.7 x 19.7 x 19.7 inch

€3,200

Print, BW210710, André Nadal

André Nadal

Print . 50 x 50 x 0.7 cm Print . 19.7 x 19.7 x 0.3 inch

€1,200

Sculpture, Now I’m free, MVR

MVR

Sculpture . 14.5 x 33 x 14 cm Sculpture . 5.7 x 13 x 5.5 inch

€395

Painting, Wall, Paulis Postazs

Paulis Postazs

Painting . 20 x 38 x 3 cm Painting . 7.9 x 15 x 1.2 inch

€850

Sculpture, Hymm 010, Sudiczki

Sudiczki

Sculpture . 39 x 24.5 x 20 cm Sculpture . 15.4 x 9.6 x 7.9 inch

€1,800

Print, The Vans, Ronnie Wood

Ronnie Wood

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

€1,800

Fine Art Drawings, Last Supper, Renzo Vespignani

Renzo Vespignani

Fine Art Drawings . 30 x 22 x 0.2 cm Fine Art Drawings . 11.8 x 8.7 x 0.1 inch

€1,800

Print, Untitled, Jacques Doucet

Jacques Doucet

Print . 32 x 24.5 x 0.5 cm Print . 12.6 x 9.6 x 0.2 inch

€600

Fine Art Drawings, La Demande, Esther Blanchot

Esther Blanchot

Fine Art Drawings . 30 x 21 cm Fine Art Drawings . 11.8 x 8.3 inch

€500

Print, Icare - Songe, Nina Urlichs

Nina Urlichs

Print . 40 x 30 x 0.5 cm Print . 15.7 x 11.8 x 0.2 inch

€500

Painting, Midnight Sizzle, KR Moehr

KR Moehr

Painting . 40.6 x 50.8 x 1.3 cm Painting . 16 x 20 x 0.5 inch

€513

Fine Art Drawings, Image of Death, Eugene Berman

Eugene Berman

Fine Art Drawings . 39 x 29.5 x 0.1 cm Fine Art Drawings . 15.4 x 11.6 x 0 inch

€1,000

Fine Art Drawings, Woman, Leo Guida

Leo Guida

Fine Art Drawings . 32 x 24 x 0.1 cm Fine Art Drawings . 12.6 x 9.4 x 0 inch

€580

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