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, Khâos 5, Valérie Lamarre

Valérie Lamarre

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

€540

Painting, Zora, Patricia Simsa

Patricia Simsa

Painting . 30 x 30 x 6 cm Painting . 11.8 x 11.8 x 2.4 inch

€750

Painting, Autumn, Daniil Litvinov

Daniil Litvinov

Painting . 16 x 32 x 2 cm Painting . 6.3 x 12.6 x 0.8 inch

€185

Print, Melody of Five, Samy Briss

Samy Briss

Print . 29.5 x 29.5 x 0.5 cm Print . 11.6 x 11.6 x 0.2 inch

€262 €184

Painting, Vitrail, Cécile Girard

Cécile Girard

Painting . 21 x 43 x 1 cm Painting . 8.3 x 16.9 x 0.4 inch

€650

Print, Hybrid (10), Grow Up

Grow Up

Print . 29.7 x 42 x 0.05 cm Print . 11.7 x 16.5 x 0 inch

€350

Painting, Red Sand, Timon Sloane

Timon Sloane

Painting . 30.5 x 30.5 x 1.3 cm Painting . 12 x 12 x 0.5 inch

€619

Sculpture, Exit, Trash

Trash

Sculpture . 48 x 24 x 2 cm Sculpture . 18.9 x 9.4 x 0.8 inch

€400

Painting, Volcán II, Charo Velasco

Charo Velasco

Painting . 30 x 40 x 5 cm Painting . 11.8 x 15.7 x 2 inch

€405

Painting, Cosmique, Rodica Anesia

Rodica Anesia

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

€360

Painting, Feline, Iglesias15680

Iglesias15680

Painting . 41.5 x 29.5 x 0.1 cm Painting . 16.3 x 11.6 x 0 inch

€750

Fine Art Drawings, Les Pirates Skull, Tarek

Tarek

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

€130

Painting, Masque2(1), Kalus

Kalus

Painting . 46 x 33 x 2 cm Painting . 18.1 x 13 x 0.8 inch

€270

Painting, Femme Fleur, Clarisse Noël

Clarisse Noël

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

€250

Painting, Sunset, Tanja Frost

Tanja Frost

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

€300

Painting, The Nanny, Gegham Hunanyan

Gegham Hunanyan

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

€294

Print, Lifted by Love, Samy Briss

Samy Briss

Print . 30.5 x 33 x 0.5 cm Print . 12 x 13 x 0.2 inch

€262

Painting, Unnoticed, Timon Sloane

Timon Sloane

Painting . 22.9 x 30.5 x 1.3 cm Painting . 9 x 12 x 0.5 inch

€528

Painting, Title n°350, Agur

Agur

Painting . 32 x 38 x 3 cm Painting . 12.6 x 15 x 1.2 inch

€450

Painting, Blue rain, Dam Domido

Dam Domido

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

€790

Sculpture, Warrior, Victor Prodanchuk

Victor Prodanchuk

Sculpture . 28 x 15 x 13 cm Sculpture . 11 x 5.9 x 5.1 inch

€2,937

Painting, Simple balade, SP

SP

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

€340

Painting, Claim 143, Mark Hellbusch

Mark Hellbusch

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

€290

Fine Art Drawings, Talking Roofs, Alla Kechedzhan

Alla Kechedzhan

Fine Art Drawings . 40 x 30 x 0.3 cm Fine Art Drawings . 15.7 x 11.8 x 0.1 inch

€5,500

Painting, Mix pops, Crys

Crys

Painting . 45 x 35 x 1.5 cm Painting . 17.7 x 13.8 x 0.6 inch

€370

Painting, Nuggets, Soso Kumsiashvili

Soso Kumsiashvili

Painting . 30.5 x 40.6 x 0.3 cm Painting . 12 x 16 x 0.1 inch

€459

Painting, Piruleta, Iñaki Oreja

Iñaki Oreja

Painting . 33.5 x 21.7 x 3 cm Painting . 13.2 x 8.5 x 1.2 inch

€1,000

Print, Together, Hrair Gharib

Hrair Gharib

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

€130

Painting, Paris, Jaber El Mahjoub

Jaber El Mahjoub

Painting . 31 x 24 x 0.1 cm Painting . 12.2 x 9.4 x 0 inch

€150

Painting, Kvika 2, Sjöfn Kolbeins

Sjöfn Kolbeins

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

€400

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