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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Photography, eco, Yan Carpenter

eco

Yan Carpenter

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

€1,500

Painting, Silence 3, Lena Langer

Lena Langer

Painting . 30 x 30 cm Painting . 11.8 x 11.8 inch

€1,190

Painting, Mademoiselle 32, Kaige Yang

Kaige Yang

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

€1,200

Painting, Icone, Mariam Khachatryan

Mariam Khachatryan

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

€1,600

Painting, Thrall, Michael Grine

Michael Grine

Painting . 40.6 x 50.8 x 1.9 cm Painting . 16 x 20 x 0.75 inch

€275

Painting, Terminator, Michael Grine

Michael Grine

Painting . 50.8 x 40.6 x 1.9 cm Painting . 20 x 16 x 0.75 inch

€275

Painting, Zoref, Riccardo Mayr

Riccardo Mayr

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

€800

Design, Heads, Javier Calleja

Javier Calleja

Design . 30 x 12.9 x 12.6 cm Design . 11.8 x 5.1 x 5 inch

€4,550

Painting, Trois pommes, Pierre Sojo

Pierre Sojo

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

€1,500

Fine Art Drawings, Orange evening, Maksym Kisilov

Maksym Kisilov

Fine Art Drawings . 35.8 x 47.8 x 2.5 cm Fine Art Drawings . 14.1 x 18.8 x 1 inch

€824

Print, Envy, Johan Chaaz

Johan Chaaz

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

€200

Painting, Mademoiselle 42, Kaige Yang

Kaige Yang

Painting . 50 x 30 x 1 cm Painting . 19.7 x 11.8 x 0.4 inch

€1,500

Painting, Chandra, Tamar Sulakvelidze

Tamar Sulakvelidze

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

€8,000

Painting, Crecy, Jacques Coquillay

Jacques Coquillay

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

€900

Sculpture, Gorille colors, Spaco

Spaco

Sculpture . 41 x 23 x 27 cm Sculpture . 16.1 x 9.1 x 10.6 inch

€550

Print, India, Harry Gruyaert

Harry Gruyaert

Print . 28 x 36 cm Print . 11 x 14.2 inch

€700

Painting, Sirius, Mumuzepaint

Mumuzepaint

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

€480

Painting, Mimulus, Gilbert Pauli

Gilbert Pauli

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

€2,368

Painting, Totem Jaune, Tarek

Tarek

Painting . 27 x 19 x 2 cm Painting . 10.6 x 7.5 x 0.8 inch

€200

Sculpture, Noa's dress 2, Pere Sala

Pere Sala

Sculpture . 43 x 38 x 12 cm Sculpture . 16.9 x 15 x 4.7 inch

€2,050

Painting, Untitled, Vicente Verdú

Vicente Verdú

Painting . 27.3 x 25 cm Painting . 10.7 x 9.8 inch

€500

Painting, Lineal, Delia Solari

Delia Solari

Painting . 40 x 30 x 2 cm Painting . 15.7 x 11.8 x 0.8 inch

€3,661

Painting, Claim 202, Mark Hellbusch

Mark Hellbusch

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

€450

Painting, One, Julia Faer

One

Julia Faer

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

€458

Painting, Léon, Virginia Benedicto

Virginia Benedicto

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

€920

Painting, A few dwellings, Pol Ledent

Pol Ledent

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

€550

Painting, Fiery Rose, Max Skoblinsky

Max Skoblinsky

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

€700

Painting, Terra, Alessandra Bisi

Alessandra Bisi

Painting . 40 x 50 x 1.5 cm Painting . 15.7 x 19.7 x 0.6 inch

€370

Painting, Devil rock ac/dc, Spaco

Spaco

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

€200

Painting, Etude 120, Alexander Shandor

Alexander Shandor

Painting . 26 x 26 x 0.3 cm Painting . 10.2 x 10.2 x 0.1 inch

€732

Print, DeathQ1270, Death NYC

Death NYC

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

€199

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