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, Sans titre, Nizar Al Hattab

Nizar Al Hattab

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

€1,500

Painting, Embrace 14, Xanda McCagg

Xanda McCagg

Painting . 27.9 x 35.6 cm Painting . 11 x 14 inch

€846

Painting, Landscapes 196, Li Dongfeng

Li Dongfeng

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

€550

Painting, Harmony 279, Olivier Ebel

Olivier Ebel

Painting . 44 x 43 x 0.1 cm Painting . 17.3 x 16.9 x 0 inch

€350

Painting, Tray 270, Olivier Ebel

Olivier Ebel

Painting . 44 x 43 x 0.1 cm Painting . 17.3 x 16.9 x 0 inch

€350

Sculpture, Splash H, Naor

Naor

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

€790

Painting, Fun & Joy, Dorit Levi

Dorit Levi

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

€4,760

Painting, Italian town, Elena Sokolova

Elena Sokolova

Painting . 39.9 x 50 x 1 cm Painting . 15.7 x 19.7 x 0.4 inch

€399

Photography, Les menottes, Arnaud Baumann

Arnaud Baumann

Photography . 30 x 45 x 0.1 cm Photography . 11.8 x 17.7 x 0 inch

€950

Painting, Ciel, Matthieu Dorval

Matthieu Dorval

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

€1,300

Sculpture, Teddy, Alexandre Demoncler

Alexandre Demoncler

Sculpture . 35 x 25 x 20 cm Sculpture . 13.8 x 9.8 x 7.9 inch

€440

Sculpture, Uncontained, Santicri

Santicri

Sculpture . 30 x 18 x 2 cm Sculpture . 11.8 x 7.1 x 0.8 inch

€390

Painting, Train departure, Pappay

Pappay

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

€880

Fine Art Drawings, Frame me not, Nagsoul

Nagsoul

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

€800

Painting, Celebration, Vcan

Vcan

Painting . 40 x 30 x 3 cm Painting . 15.7 x 11.8 x 1.2 inch

€1,200

Painting, Real self, Natalya Mougenot

Natalya Mougenot

Painting . 42 x 29.7 x 0.1 cm Painting . 16.5 x 11.7 x 0 inch

€400

Painting, Golden autumn, Simon Kozhin

Simon Kozhin

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

€3,500

Painting, Couple, Albena Vatcheva

Albena Vatcheva

Painting . 30 x 30 x 4 cm Painting . 11.8 x 11.8 x 1.6 inch

€450

Painting, Freedom, Elena Artgent

Elena Artgent

Painting . 50 x 50 x 1.8 cm Painting . 19.7 x 19.7 x 0.7 inch

€815

Painting, Victor Wembanyama, PyB

PyB

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

€200

Sculpture, L'écoute, Frédéric Vincent

Frédéric Vincent

Sculpture . 47 x 45 x 32 cm Sculpture . 18.5 x 17.7 x 12.6 inch

€12,800

Sculpture, Les Ailles, Vincent Ochs

Vincent Ochs

Sculpture . 35 x 22 x 17 cm Sculpture . 13.8 x 8.7 x 6.7 inch

€1,330

Sculpture, Le voyage, Stratos

Stratos

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

€1,900

Photography, Van Gogh, Richard Unglick

Richard Unglick

Photography . 24 x 36 x 1 cm Photography . 9.4 x 14.2 x 0.4 inch

€60

Sculpture, Cha'Classe, Lolek

Lolek

Sculpture . 28 x 35.5 x 12 cm Sculpture . 11 x 14 x 4.7 inch

€3,800

Photography, eco, Yan Carpenter

eco

Yan Carpenter

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

€1,500

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