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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Sculpture, Evolution, Milko Dobrev

Milko Dobrev

Sculpture . 35.5 x 13.5 x 6 cm Sculpture . 14 x 5.3 x 2.4 inch

€1,450

Painting, Outfit, Su Yu

Su Yu

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

€1,000

Painting, Dazibao, Meleo

Meleo

Painting . 22 x 32 x 4 cm Painting . 8.7 x 12.6 x 1.6 inch

€1,200

Sculpture, BabyBrat Graffiti, Brat

Brat

Sculpture . 38 x 22 x 20 cm Sculpture . 15 x 8.7 x 7.9 inch

€5,100

Sculpture, Ricard, Costa

Costa

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

€3,000

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

Painting, Relax, Jean-Philippe Berger

Jean-Philippe Berger

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

€280

Painting, Au delà, Florence Boré

Florence Boré

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

€1,000

Painting, Super hero stamp's 2, Elmago

Elmago

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

€990

Sculpture, Jordan, Fabrik Kholab

Fabrik Kholab

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

€800

Sculpture, Commune, Joachim Romain

Joachim Romain

Sculpture . 30 x 46 x 10 cm Sculpture . 11.8 x 18.1 x 3.9 inch

€1,000

Painting, Visages, Pierre Henry

Pierre Henry

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

€1,022

Painting, The Black Tavern, Meleo

Meleo

Painting . 32 x 22 x 4 cm Painting . 12.6 x 8.7 x 1.6 inch

€1,200

Painting, Untitled, Shadi Abou Sada

Shadi Abou Sada

Painting . 30 x 40 x 4 cm Painting . 11.8 x 15.7 x 1.6 inch

€1,000

Painting, Landscape, Martine Elhaik

Martine Elhaik

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

€200

Fine Art Drawings, Untitled, Viktor Pivovarov

Viktor Pivovarov

Fine Art Drawings . 30.7 x 22.8 x 1 cm Fine Art Drawings . 12.1 x 9 x 0.4 inch

€9,000

Painting, Ange, Ender

Ender

Painting . 39 x 39 x 1 cm Painting . 15.4 x 15.4 x 0.4 inch

€890

Fine Art Drawings, Daily bread, Salamandra

Salamandra

Fine Art Drawings . 40 x 30 x 0.1 cm Fine Art Drawings . 15.7 x 11.8 x 0 inch

€800

Painting, Feathers in Bloom, Ani Hovak

Ani Hovak

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

€1,356

Painting, Balloon, Bernard Saint-Maxent

Bernard Saint-Maxent

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

€1,200

Painting, Landscape, Martine Elhaik

Martine Elhaik

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

€200

Sculpture, Luxury Bag, Maxim van Hassel

Maxim van Hassel

Sculpture . 45 x 40 x 13 cm Sculpture . 17.7 x 15.7 x 5.1 inch

€975

Painting, Ambivalence, Sophie Gouvion

Sophie Gouvion

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

€3,100

Sculpture, Ard, Joachim Romain

Ard

Joachim Romain

Sculpture . 36 x 21 x 8 cm Sculpture . 14.2 x 8.3 x 3.1 inch

€750

Painting, Le passage, Sophie Dumont

Sophie Dumont

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

€1,850

Painting, Magic Hat, Saba Dolikashvili

Saba Dolikashvili

Painting . 34 x 24 x 1 cm Painting . 13.4 x 9.4 x 0.4 inch

€900

Painting, Playroom, Amy Shekhter

Amy Shekhter

Painting . 30.5 x 30.5 x 2.5 cm Painting . 12 x 12 x 1 inch

€814

Sculpture, Musicien, Anmarie Léon

Anmarie Léon

Sculpture . 40 x 15 x 15 cm Sculpture . 15.7 x 5.9 x 5.9 inch

€1,800

Print, Untitled, Yasser Safi

Yasser Safi

Print . 35 x 50 cm Print . 13.8 x 19.7 inch

€1,050

Fine Art Drawings, Daily bread, Salamandra

Salamandra

Fine Art Drawings . 40 x 33 x 0.1 cm Fine Art Drawings . 15.7 x 13 x 0 inch

€800