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, Morning Light, Mike Hall

Mike Hall

Painting . 30 x 35 x 1 cm Painting . 11.8 x 13.8 x 0.4 inch

€959

Painting, Le passage, Marion Cicéron

Marion Cicéron

Painting . 33.5 x 49 x 0.2 cm Painting . 13.2 x 19.3 x 0.1 inch

€390

Painting, Hidden Story 19., Petr Strnad

Petr Strnad

Painting . 42.4 x 30 x 0.1 cm Painting . 16.7 x 11.8 x 0 inch

€180

Painting, Mask Geometrik, Tarek

Tarek

Painting . 41 x 33 x 2 cm Painting . 16.1 x 13 x 0.8 inch

€550

Painting, Light Space 6., Petr Strnad

Petr Strnad

Painting . 34.3 x 24.3 x 0.1 cm Painting . 13.5 x 9.6 x 0 inch

€230

Painting, Formation 6, Susan L

Susan L

Painting . 32 x 26 x 4 cm Painting . 12.6 x 10.2 x 1.6 inch

€742

Painting, Bratsevo Estate, Simon Kozhin

Simon Kozhin

Painting . 25 x 35 x 0.3 cm Painting . 9.8 x 13.8 x 0.1 inch

€3,700

Painting, Horses, Neonilla Medvedeva

Neonilla Medvedeva

Painting . 37 x 45 x 3 cm Painting . 14.6 x 17.7 x 1.2 inch

€640

Sculpture, Tides, Nando

Nando

Sculpture . 42 x 42 x 4 cm Sculpture . 16.5 x 16.5 x 1.6 inch

€3,499

Painting, Dignity, Elizabeth Becker

Elizabeth Becker

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

€540

Sculpture, Pintade, Armand Petersen

Armand Petersen

Sculpture . 30.7 x 24.5 x 15.1 cm Sculpture . 12.1 x 9.6 x 5.9 inch

€14,000

Painting, RDG172312, Yigit Yazici

Yigit Yazici

Painting . 28 x 36 x 1.5 cm Painting . 11 x 14.2 x 0.6 inch

€1,800

Painting, Taureau, Hervé Maury

Hervé Maury

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

€750

Painting, Golden impact, Maria Ruisi

Maria Ruisi

Painting . 49 x 39 x 2 cm Painting . 19.3 x 15.4 x 0.8 inch

€380

Painting, Landscape, Martine Elhaik

Martine Elhaik

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

€200

Sculpture, Reader LVI, Jose Manuel Solares

Jose Manuel Solares

Sculpture . 30 x 13 x 8 cm Sculpture . 11.8 x 5.1 x 3.1 inch

€325 €293

Sculpture, Land'eau, Pascal Billard

Pascal Billard

Sculpture . 25 x 50 x 25 cm Sculpture . 9.8 x 19.7 x 9.8 inch

€1,040

Painting, View of Portsoy, Mike Hall

Mike Hall

Painting . 35 x 30 x 1 cm Painting . 13.8 x 11.8 x 0.4 inch

€959

Painting, Manga 1, Patricia Molinaro

Patricia Molinaro

Painting . 28 x 28 x 2 cm Painting . 11 x 11 x 0.8 inch

€240

Painting, Nature morte II, Xiu

Xiu

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

€500

Painting, La couronne, Marta Grassi

Marta Grassi

Painting . 27 x 21 x 2 cm Painting . 10.6 x 8.3 x 0.8 inch

€440

Painting, Hidden Story 18., Petr Strnad

Petr Strnad

Painting . 40.6 x 30.4 x 1.9 cm Painting . 16 x 12 x 0.7 inch

€320

Painting, Paysage, Gilbert Pastor

Gilbert Pastor

Painting . 26 x 35 x 0.1 cm Painting . 10.2 x 13.8 x 0 inch

€1,800

Painting, 2013.08.13, Oksana Mas

Oksana Mas

Painting . 40 x 40 x 4 cm Painting . 15.7 x 15.7 x 1.6 inch

€2,500

Sculpture, Step, Jesus Curia

Jesus Curia

Sculpture . 22 x 47 x 90 cm Sculpture . 8.7 x 18.5 x 35.4 inch

€6,600

Sculpture, Fétiche II, Pascal Billard

Pascal Billard

Sculpture . 31 x 31 x 12 cm Sculpture . 12.2 x 12.2 x 4.7 inch

€1,040

Sculpture, Berani, Valerian Sioridzé

Valerian Sioridzé

Sculpture . 32 x 34 x 25 cm Sculpture . 12.6 x 13.4 x 9.8 inch

€1,150

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