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…

Read more
Painting, Road to the sea, Elena Lukina

Elena Lukina

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

€1,080

Painting, Eau bleue, Isabelle Marie

Isabelle Marie

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

€600

Painting, Spring portal, Lark Pilinsky

Lark Pilinsky

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

€1,500

Painting, Robot boy, Dr. Love

Dr. Love

Painting . 40 x 30 x 0.2 cm Painting . 15.7 x 11.8 x 0.1 inch

€50

Painting, Summer Heat I, Jane W

Jane W

Painting . 21 x 27 x 4 cm Painting . 8.3 x 10.6 x 1.6 inch

€471

Sculpture, Egg, Scott Troxel

Egg

Scott Troxel

Sculpture . 41 x 26 x 5 cm Sculpture . 16.1 x 10.2 x 2 inch

€2,000

Sculpture, Halo Blue, Scott Troxel

Scott Troxel

Sculpture . 50.8 x 35.6 x 5.1 cm Sculpture . 20 x 14 x 2 inch

€2,300

Painting, Inner conflict, Karaya

Karaya

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

€2,600

Print, Pop Shop I (3), Keith Haring

Keith Haring

Print . 30.5 x 38.1 x 2.54 cm Print . 12 x 15 x 1 inch

€38,742

Sculpture, Himilaya Blue, Scott Troxel

Scott Troxel

Sculpture . 30.5 x 16.5 x 5.7 cm Sculpture . 12 x 6.5 x 2.25 inch

€900

Fine Art Drawings, Character, Pascal Marlin

Pascal Marlin

Fine Art Drawings . 31 x 24 x 0.1 cm Fine Art Drawings . 12.2 x 9.4 x 0 inch

€240

Painting, Emprise, Jonathan Pradillon

Jonathan Pradillon

Painting . 24 x 35 x 0.4 cm Painting . 9.4 x 13.8 x 0.2 inch

€160

Painting, Spirale, Jonathan Pradillon

Jonathan Pradillon

Painting . 38 x 38 x 0.1 cm Painting . 15 x 15 x 0 inch

€300

Painting, Cascade, Isabelle Marie

Isabelle Marie

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

€600

Sculpture, The dog, Robert Sgarra

Robert Sgarra

Sculpture . 30 x 50 x 20 cm Sculpture . 11.8 x 19.7 x 7.9 inch

€599

Print, Wall of Death, Peter Doig

Peter Doig

Print . 35.6 x 30.5 cm Print . 14 x 12 inch

€7,000

Painting, Summer, Ahmed Art

Ahmed Art

Painting . 50 x 50 x 0.1 cm Painting . 19.7 x 19.7 x 0 inch

€350

Painting, A Sunny Day, Dr. Love

Dr. Love

Painting . 40 x 30 x 0.2 cm Painting . 15.7 x 11.8 x 0.1 inch

€50

Painting, S.t, Tonino Guerra

S.t

Tonino Guerra

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

€2,700

Sculpture, Giacometti Man, Spaco

Spaco

Sculpture . 31 x 18 x 6 cm Sculpture . 12.2 x 7.1 x 2.4 inch

€260

Painting, Forest, Petra Schott

Petra Schott

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

€2,300

Print, Heavy Drop, Henrik Gjerstad

Henrik Gjerstad

Print . 40 x 30 x 0.2 cm Print . 15.7 x 11.8 x 0.1 inch

€380

Painting, Illusion, Muriel Charbonnier

Muriel Charbonnier

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

€1,300

Painting, Ocaso, Faby Alcapia

Faby Alcapia

Painting . 22.9 x 30.5 x 1 cm Painting . 9 x 12 x 0.4 inch

€3,000

Fine Art Drawings, Car Flames, Spencer Harris

Spencer Harris

Fine Art Drawings . 30.5 x 22.9 x 2 cm Fine Art Drawings . 12 x 9 x 0.8 inch

€1,778

Painting, Asterix, Nobody

Nobody

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

€280

16/46