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, Day dream II, Fabrice Leito

Fabrice Leito

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

€1,100

Print, Festival, Fernand Léger

Fernand Léger

Print . 48 x 34 x 0.5 cm Print . 18.9 x 13.4 x 0.2 inch

€800

Painting, Streams, Antony Squizzato

Antony Squizzato

Painting . 50 x 50 x 5 cm Painting . 19.7 x 19.7 x 2 inch

€1,650

Painting, La méditation, Zafi

Zafi

Painting . 49 x 49 x 0.1 cm Painting . 19.3 x 19.3 x 0 inch

€1,450

Painting, Luxuriate, Ashlynn Browning

Ashlynn Browning

Painting . 45.7 x 35.6 x 5.1 cm Painting . 18 x 14 x 2 inch

€962

Painting, Pink Pop Skull, Dead Head

Dead Head

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

€270

Sculpture, Amok, Bruno Cantais

Bruno Cantais

Sculpture . 36 x 33 x 26 cm Sculpture . 14.2 x 13 x 10.2 inch

€2,650

Painting, Rosentor, Greet Helsen

Greet Helsen

Painting . 40 x 40 cm Painting . 15.7 x 15.7 inch

€1,202

Painting, Formule1 F1, Spaco

Spaco

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

€190

Painting, Les visages du Cognac, Zafi

Zafi

Painting . 49 x 49 x 3 cm Painting . 19.3 x 19.3 x 1.2 inch

€1,450

Painting, Aurore, Jean-Claude Bertrand

Jean-Claude Bertrand

Painting . 50 x 40 x 4.5 cm Painting . 19.7 x 15.7 x 1.8 inch

€1,800

Painting, Harvest Gold, JonOne

JonOne

Painting . 41 x 33 x 4 cm Painting . 16.1 x 13 x 1.6 inch

€5,500

Print, DeathG416, Death NYC

Death NYC

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

€199

Painting, Happy Hope, MrHope

MrHope

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

€120 €108

Painting, Woman XXX, Eulogia Merle

Eulogia Merle

Painting . 50 x 50 cm Painting . 19.7 x 19.7 inch

€1,100

Painting, Les 3 Potos, MAM

MAM

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

€300

Sculpture, Silk Flower, Mart Krijger

Mart Krijger

Sculpture . 33 x 33 x 4.5 cm Sculpture . 13 x 13 x 1.8 inch

€950

Sculpture, R2Rock, Sylvie Cappe

Sylvie Cappe

Sculpture . 41 x 35 x 35 cm Sculpture . 16.1 x 13.8 x 13.8 inch

€880

Painting, Songes, Marie-Paskale Perrin

Marie-Paskale Perrin

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

€1,700

Painting, SwagMouse, Sylvie Cappe

Sylvie Cappe

Painting . 49.5 x 39 x 11 cm Painting . 19.5 x 15.4 x 4.3 inch

€430

Sculpture, Miss Love, Virginia Benedicto

Virginia Benedicto

Sculpture . 30 x 30 x 30 cm Sculpture . 11.8 x 11.8 x 11.8 inch

€2,100

Fine Art Drawings, Tuesday, Dean Tavoularis

Dean Tavoularis

Fine Art Drawings . 31 x 22 x 1 cm Fine Art Drawings . 12.2 x 8.7 x 0.4 inch

€900

Painting, Sans Titre, Laurent HDBX

Laurent HDBX

Painting . 30 x 30 x 8 cm Painting . 11.8 x 11.8 x 3.1 inch

€1,250

Print, The Agony and Ecstasy, Faile

Faile

Print . 50.2 x 34.9 x 2.5 cm Print . 19.75 x 13.75 x 1 inch

€1,661

Sculpture, Plant Life, Brian Calvin

Brian Calvin

Sculpture . 36.5 x 15.5 x 7 cm Sculpture . 14.4 x 6.1 x 2.8 inch

€8,033

Painting, L'arbre rouge, Autonne

Autonne

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

€800

Painting, Rainbow skull, M.Cros

M.Cros

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

€1,500

Sculpture, Pacman Fantoms invader, PyB

PyB

Sculpture . 8 x 26 x 6 cm Sculpture . 3.1 x 10.2 x 2.4 inch

€270

Painting, I love coco, Géraldine G.

Géraldine G.

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

€1,700

Painting, Printemps, Marion Lachant

Marion Lachant

Painting . 50 x 50 x 1.6 cm Painting . 19.7 x 19.7 x 0.6 inch

€300

Print, Cruising, Beryl Cook

Beryl Cook

Print . 45 x 45 x 0.2 cm Print . 17.7 x 17.7 x 0.1 inch

€1,082

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