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, Lontano, Alessandra Bisi

Alessandra Bisi

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

€350

Painting, Impulse 17 bis, Dam Domido

Dam Domido

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

€990

Painting, Landscape, Martine Elhaik

Martine Elhaik

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

€200

Painting, Sans titre 9, Scalarudgia

Scalarudgia

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

€550

Painting, The bridge, Harrie Sijbers

Harrie Sijbers

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

€1,350

Painting, Léon, Virginia Benedicto

Virginia Benedicto

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

€920

Fine Art Drawings, Green Eyes, Dean Tavoularis

Dean Tavoularis

Fine Art Drawings . 35 x 28 x 1 cm Fine Art Drawings . 13.8 x 11 x 0.4 inch

€1,000

Painting, Isthme, Timothée

Timothée

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

€1,200

Painting, Girl Picasso Colors, Spaco

Spaco

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

€190

Painting, Mylene Farmer (1), Spaco

Spaco

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

€290

Print, Harlequin, Robert Fontene

Robert Fontene

Print . 27 x 19 x 0.2 cm Print . 10.6 x 7.5 x 0.1 inch

€300

Painting, L'éveil, Emily Starck

Emily Starck

Painting . 27 x 46 x 1.9 cm Painting . 10.6 x 18.1 x 0.7 inch

€600

Painting, Toy Love, Spaco

Spaco

Painting . 40 x 33 x 3 cm Painting . 15.7 x 13 x 1.2 inch

€220

Painting, Rolex colors, Spaco

Spaco

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

€200

Painting, Creative Music, Dorit Levi

Dorit Levi

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

€4,747

Fine Art Drawings, 068, Agur

068

Agur

Fine Art Drawings . 29 x 41 x 0.1 cm Fine Art Drawings . 11.4 x 16.1 x 0 inch

€350

Painting, Hop Basquiat, Spaco

Spaco

Painting . 46 x 38 x 3 cm Painting . 18.1 x 15 x 1.2 inch

€340

Sculpture, Vriach, Fabrice Lettron

Fabrice Lettron

Sculpture . 42.5 x 8.5 x 8 cm Sculpture . 16.7 x 3.3 x 3.1 inch

€390

Painting, Density, David Cow

David Cow

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

€1,500

Painting, Jamaica, Mark David Smith

Mark David Smith

Painting . 41.9 x 39.4 x 0.3 cm Painting . 16.5 x 15.5 x 0.1 inch

€356

Painting, Gen #5, Alec Franco

Alec Franco

Painting . 50 x 35 x 0.3 cm Painting . 19.7 x 13.8 x 0.1 inch

€913

Painting, Hot Mess, Michael Alan

Michael Alan

Painting . 27.9 x 12.7 x 0.1 cm Painting . 11 x 5 x 0.04 inch

€1,734

Painting, Floral, Delia Solari

Delia Solari

Painting . 45 x 35 x 2 cm Painting . 17.7 x 13.8 x 0.8 inch

€5,477

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, SwagMouse, Sylvie Cappe

Sylvie Cappe

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

€430 €387

Sculpture, Afro Revo VIII, Lanre Studio

Lanre Studio

Sculpture . 48 x 35 x 5 cm Sculpture . 18.9 x 13.8 x 2 inch

€625 €563

Print, Night Call, Saba Shengelia

Saba Shengelia

Print . 45.16 x 33.87 x 0.2 cm Print . 17.8 x 13.3 x 0.1 inch

€500

Painting, Le pré heureux, Pol Ledent

Pol Ledent

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

€500

Sculpture, Mickey, Gregg Smith

Gregg Smith

Sculpture . 50 x 30 x 25 cm Sculpture . 19.7 x 11.8 x 9.8 inch

€210

Painting, Mezcla, Nathanael Koffi

Nathanael Koffi

Painting . 32 x 24 x 0.1 cm Painting . 12.6 x 9.4 x 0 inch

€400

Painting, N5 Colors, Spaco

Spaco

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

€190

Painting, The Skull Basquiat, Spaco

Spaco

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

€180

Painting, The King Basquiat, Spaco

Spaco

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

€180

Painting, L0uis Vuitt0n colors, Spaco

Spaco

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

€190

Painting, Coco colors, Spaco

Spaco

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

€190

Painting, L0uis Vuitt0n gold, Spaco

Spaco

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

€180

Painting, Mix II, PyB

PyB

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

€290

Painting, 110M skull Basquiat, Spaco

Spaco

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

€190

Sculpture, Popnours, Sylvie Cappe

Sylvie Cappe

Sculpture . 30 x 21 x 21 cm Sculpture . 11.8 x 8.3 x 8.3 inch

€350

Painting, Crane fou 19, Spaco

Spaco

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

€280

Painting, Palm springs, Spaco

Spaco

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

€200

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