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, Cloudy Day, Alexander Shandor

Alexander Shandor

Painting . 46.5 x 36.5 x 0.2 cm Painting . 18.3 x 14.4 x 0.1 inch

€450

Painting, Buen Chico, Samuel Almansa

Samuel Almansa

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

€610

Photography, La Muse, Rodrigo

Rodrigo

Photography . 35.5 x 23.7 x 0.1 cm Photography . 14 x 9.3 x 0 inch

€995

Painting, Mystery, Elizabeth Becker

Elizabeth Becker

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

€297

Fine Art Drawings, Vive les fleurs, Seb Paul Michel

Seb Paul Michel

Fine Art Drawings . 21 x 29.7 x 0.1 cm Fine Art Drawings . 8.3 x 11.7 x 0 inch

€69

Painting, Brooklyn, Karin Boinet

Karin Boinet

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

€650

Sculpture, P'tit Cha'Maille, Lolek

Lolek

Sculpture . 26 x 25 x 16.5 cm Sculpture . 10.2 x 9.8 x 6.5 inch

€3,200

Painting, Automne, Thomas Groslier

Thomas Groslier

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

€450

Sculpture, Spring, Nando

Nando

Sculpture . 44 x 27 x 10 cm Sculpture . 17.3 x 10.6 x 3.9 inch

€3,499

Painting, Untitled, Antonio de Vargas

Antonio de Vargas

Painting . 36 x 36 x 0.2 cm Painting . 14.2 x 14.2 x 0.1 inch

€750

Painting, Willow blossoms, Simon Kozhin

Simon Kozhin

Painting . 30 x 40 x 0.3 cm Painting . 11.8 x 15.7 x 0.1 inch

€3,800

Sculpture, Soyeux, Anne Millot

Anne Millot

Sculpture . 41 x 11 x 13 cm Sculpture . 16.1 x 4.3 x 5.1 inch

€1,000

Painting, Carousel, Simon Kozhin

Simon Kozhin

Painting . 20 x 30 x 0.3 cm Painting . 7.9 x 11.8 x 0.1 inch

€2,800

Print, Concept #121, Petr Strnad

Petr Strnad

Print . 50 x 33.3 x 0.1 cm Print . 19.7 x 13.1 x 0 inch

€320

Painting, Frost and sun, Simon Kozhin

Simon Kozhin

Painting . 20 x 30 x 0.3 cm Painting . 7.9 x 11.8 x 0.1 inch

€2,900

Print, Lion, Bernard Louédin

Bernard Louédin

Print . 28 x 20 x 0.1 cm Print . 11 x 7.9 x 0 inch

€160

Painting, Les bavards, Milcheva Emilia

Milcheva Emilia

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

€450

Painting, Passeig 2, Jordi Sàbat

Jordi Sàbat

Painting . 46 x 33 x 3 cm Painting . 18.1 x 13 x 1.2 inch

€950

Sculpture, Manade 2, Dominique Combe

Dominique Combe

Sculpture . 43 x 47 x 19 cm Sculpture . 16.9 x 18.5 x 7.5 inch

€1,080

Painting, Lemons, Liubou Sas

Liubou Sas

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

€2,450

Fine Art Drawings, Line ups of lost data, Nagsoul

Nagsoul

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

€500

Sculpture, Untitled, Hussein Madi

Hussein Madi

Sculpture . 39 x 27 x 21 cm Sculpture . 15.4 x 10.6 x 8.3 inch

€31,047

Painting, A little angel, Leonid K.

Leonid K.

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

€275

Painting, Dessert 4, Natalia Naumova

Natalia Naumova

Painting . 30 x 30 x 1.7 cm Painting . 11.8 x 11.8 x 0.7 inch

€450

Painting, Zoe, Virginie Clement

Zoe

Virginie Clement

Painting . 50 x 40 x 4 cm Painting . 19.7 x 15.7 x 1.6 inch

€500

Painting, Adriann, Hugues Candaës

Hugues Candaës

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

€1,260

Painting, Abstract No. 89, Gina Vor

Gina Vor

Painting . 41.5 x 29 x 0.3 cm Painting . 16.3 x 11.4 x 0.1 inch

€200

Sculpture, Prunus ddris, Joseph Beuys

Joseph Beuys

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

€2,900

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